No.10 JMU Beats UTEP and No. 15 Arizona

Sunday, March 6

Tucson, Ariz.

1 p.m. ET

James Madison University

16-1

UTEP

9-13

James Madison

UTEP

3/6/2016 5:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TUSCON, Ariz. – No.10 James Madison defeated UTEP (3-0) and host No.15 Arizona (4-2) in the final day of the Wildcat Invitational on Sunday afternoon. The Dukes advanced to 17-1 while the Miners fell to 9-13 and the Wildcats dropped to 15-7.

Senior pitcher/utility Jailyn Ford (7-0) picked up the win against the Wildcats in a complete game performance, giving up just five hits while striking out five. Sophomore pitcher/infielder Megan Good (10-1) earned the complete game shutout win over the Miners, yielding only two hits and one walk while striking out six.

Senior catcher Erica Field led the Dukes with four hits on the day, followed by Good and Ford who each contributing two RBIs.

After giving up two runs to Arizona in the first off of two hits and an error, the Dukes kept the Wildcats scoreless through the final six innings.

Sophomore designated hitter Alyssa Buddle hit a solo home run in the second, cutting the deficit 2-1. Just one inning later, Good tied the contest with an RBI single to center field, scoring junior infielder Madyson Moran, who had led off the inning with an infield single.

Junior outfielder Taylor Newton gave JMU the go-ahead run with a solo home run in the first at bat of the sixth inning, before Good tacked on another run in the seventh with a double that plated sophomore infielder Morgan Tolle.

Against UTEP, James Madison jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run RBI double down the left field line from Ford that scored Field and Tolle.

Four innings later, in the fifth, junior Niki Prince extended the lead with a RBI double to center field, scoring redshirt freshman outfielder Kassie Brammer.

UP NEXT
The No.10 Dukes return to Hillenbrand Stadium on Wednesday, Mar. 9, to face No.15 Arizona again. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.

QUOTING HEAD COACH MICKEY DEAN
"Our pitchers did an amazing job of getting ahead in the count and completely controlling both games today. We had contributions from a lot of different people today and it was truly a team effort."

CAREER CHARTS
With starts in both the UTEP and Arizona games, seniors Erica Field and Jailyn Ford move into ninth place on JMU's all-time career starts list with 195 apiece.

With the 3-0 shutout over the Miners, Good brings her career shutout total to eight and is now tied for fifth on the all-time charts with Liz George (2002-05).

DUKE DOG DOUBLES
James Madison scored all three runs against UTEP off of doubles, with Ford bringing in Field and Tolle and Prince plating Brammer. JMU recorded 15 doubles across the five games of the Wildcat Invitational, including a tournament-high six in the 14-5 win over Mount St. Mary's on Friday, Mar. 4.

TWEETS OF THE DAY

So great to see #JMUSoftball alum, Brittany Jeans, in Tucson! Thanks for making the trip, Beej! pic.twitter.com/o7Z8U6MHAN
— JMU Softball (@JMU_Softball) March 6, 2016

Another ranked opponent goes down at the hands of JMU. Can't help but think this is a special season for the Dukes. https://t.co/lc6M3o341a
— David DeGuzman (@ddeguzmanWHSV) March 6, 2016

SEASON STREAK
This marks the 15th straight win for James Madison, a streak that began on Feb.13 with a 1-0 win over then-No.17 UCF.

Field and Moran each recorded a hit in the last six straight games, including all five at the Wildcat Invitational. Newton also earned a hit in every game of the Wildcat Invitational including a team-high three home runs.