Dukes Clutch in Day Two, Beat #3 Auburn and Fordham

Saturday, February 20

Clearwater, Fla.

10 a.m.

James Madison University

7-1

Fordham

2-6

Fordham

James Madison

2/20/2016 4:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 19 James Madison defeated Fordham 11-4 and No. 3 Auburn 3-2 in day two of the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation on Saturday. The Dukes advanced to 8-1 on the season while the Rams fell to 2-6 and the Tigers fell to 8-1.

Sophomore pitcher Megan Good (4-1) snagged the win against Fordham in 6 2/3 innings pitched while senior pitcher Jailyn Ford (4-0) earned the victory in the complete game against Auburn.

Six different Dukes recorded hits against Auburn with four coming against Marcy Harper, who entered the game undefeated with a 3-0 record.

Good notched a career high with three hits and tied a JMU individual game high with six RBIs against the Rams, highlighted by two home runs. Sophomore infielder Morgan Tolle went 3-for-4 against Fordham while senior catcher Erica Field had two hits and brought in three runs.

After trailing 1-0 against Auburn following a solo home run in the second, junior outfielder Taylor Newton ripped a double scoring Ford, who reached on a walk. Junior Tahli Moore kept the momentum with a single to right center, scoring Newton to take the lead in the fourth.

Two innings later, junior infielder Niki Prince hit a one-run bomb over the center field fence for JMU's final run of the game.

In the seventh, Ford and the Dukes halted a Tiger comeback with a strikeout and two fly outs after a leadoff home run in the inning by Auburn's Shea.

Good tallied five strikeouts in game one paired with only two hits. Ford recorded nine strikeouts against Auburn while only allowing three hits.

QUOTING HEAD COACH MICKEY DEAN
"We had a really good day at the plate and in the circle with productive outs and timely hits all day. Our pitchers continue to get themselves and our defense out of some tough situations. I am very proud of our enegery and effort today."

POSTGAME INTERVIEW - JAILYN FORD

UP NEXT
JMU rounds out the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational Sunday morning against Oklahoma State, first pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.

TWEET OF THE DAY

"These are 2 great programs w/ great people involved. When you get teams together like this you can really make a difference"- Michele Smith
— JMU Softball (@JMU_Softball) February 20, 2016

WRITING THE HISTORY BOOKS
JMU's 3-2 win over #3 Auburn marks the program's best win over a nationally-ranked since beating #2 Oregon 3-0 in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2014.

RUNNING THE RANKINGS
No.19 JMU is 3-1 against to-25 opponents with a 14-4 run advantage and a 18-11 hit advantage. In the circle the Ford/Good duo has held the nation's best to a .124 batting average.