JMU Takes Two From UNCW in Conference Openers

Friday, March 25

Wilmington, N.C.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

23-2, 1-0

UNCW

19-10, 0-1

James Madison

UNCW

3/25/2016 8:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WILMINGTON, N.C. – No. 9 James Madison opened Colonial Athletic Association softball play with a pair of victories at UNCW, notching 2-0 and 2-1 victories on Friday evening at Boseman Field.

The Dukes improved to 24-2 overall and 2-0 in Colonial Athletic Association play while the Seahawks fell to 19-11 and 0-2.

Sophomore pitcher Megan Good (14-1) earned the win in game one with a complete game shutout, allowing just two hits and striking out seven. Senior pitcher Jailyn Ford (10-1) picked up the victory in game two after conceding one run and a single hit, to go with her seven strikeouts.

Junior outfielder Taylor Newton led the Dukes with two RBIs in the doubleheader while senior catcher Erica Field and sophomore infielder Morgan Tolle both recorded three hits.

In game one, both teams were held scoreless through four innings in a pitcher's duel between Good and UNCW freshman Haley Lenderman. Field sparked a two-run fifth with a double down the third-base line and she scored on the ensuing at-bat after Tolle singled up the middle. Newton followed suit with an RBI single up the middle to plate Tolle and complete the game's scoring.

In game two, JMU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Newton hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Tolle. The Seahawks tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth when Claudia Spinelli led off the home half with a solo home run to center field.

Junior outfielder Tahli Moore drew a walk to open the top of the seventh and she advanced to third on a sac bunt by senior outfielder Hannah Hayes. Field accounted for the game-winning hit with a two-out, RBI single to the pitcher, scoring Moore to give the Dukes the 2-1 lead. In the bottom half, Ford struck out three UNCW batters to clinch the victory.

UP NEXT
The Dukes return th Boseman field for the third and final game of the series against UNCW on Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m.

QUOTING HEAD COACH MICKEY DEAN
"I thought our pitching and defense was amazing today. Our pitchers did a good job of getting ahead and staying ahead in the count often. I can say that I was anxious starting conference play after not playing for two weeks as our bats were a little slow but I am extremely proud of the way the team grinded out two tough wins today."

TWEET OF THE DAY

Good ends the 3rd with her 100th strikeout of the season! JMU-0 UNCW-0 #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/ykuOTZ6pPy
— JMU Softball (@JMU_Softball) March 25, 2016