Softball Tunes Up for Postseason with Senior Day Sweep of Hofstra

Saturday, May 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

42-4, 17-1

Hofstra

24-21, 8-9

Hofstra

James Madison

Softball Tunes Up for Postseason with Senior Day Sweep of Hofstra

5/7/2016 6:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison used a big inning in each contest to gain separation and earned a doubleheader sweep of Hofstra by scores of 4-0 and 7-1 in the final regular season softball contests for both teams on Saturday, May 7 in front of 905 fans at Veterans Memorial Park.

With the wins, JMU, ranked eighth in the most recent national polls, improved to 43-4 overall, 18-1 in the CAA and 11-0 at home. The decisions also eliminated Hofstra from the CAA postseason picture with the Pride ending their season at 24-22 overall and 8-10 in the league.

Game 1 – James Madison 4, Hofstra 0

Jailyn Ford celebrated senior day with her second complete-game, one-hit effort of the season in the circle to improve to 15-2. She recorded nine strikeouts and did not allow a Pride runner to advance past first base.

The Dukes gained the early momentum with a three-run first inning, boosted by right fielder Taylor Newton's two-run double as part of her three-RBI day in the doubleheader. The Dukes added another run in the first on a double-steal attempt and closed the scoring in the fifth with the aid of an error.

Newton went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the first game. Senior catcher Erica Field singled, walked and scored a run.

Jessica Peslak took the loss for Hofstra after allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits and six walks in five innings.

Game 2 – James Madison 7, Hofstra 1

JMU overturned a 1-0 deficit with a four-run fourth inning and added two in the fifth and one in the sixth to register a 7-1 victory over Hofstra.

Megan Good improved to 28-2 after allowing one run on six hits with two strikeouts in a complete-game effort. She aided her cause at the plate with her third and fourth walks of the day along with a single and an RBI.

Senior left fielder Hannah Hayes was 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Ford and Newton had back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning.

Hofstra grabbed the lead with a solo home run in the third by designated player Madison Ambush but was not able to add to its tally. Madison Grimm took the loss in the circle after allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits with seven walks in six innings.

Quoting Mickey Dean

"Hofstra came in here fighting for its life, and I thought both games very much felt like a playoff atmosphere. We needed that and we got that from them. Our defense is what's going to win a championship. We hadn't been playing real clean defense the last few series, and we were perfect today. I was extremely proud of that. I thought our pitchers did a nice job of keeping them off balance, because they like to swing it. They are a home run hitting team. They got one today, but that's all they got."

CAA Championship

With the regular season wrapping up, JMU solidified the position it had already earned as regular season champion and CAA Championship host. Rounding out the field of five will be No. 2 Towson, No. 3 College of Charleston, No. 4 Elon and No. 5 Delaware. Tournament action gets underway on Tuesday with Elon facing Delaware and the winner advancing to face JMU in its first tournament game on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Towson and CofC begin Wednesday's action at noon. The tournament wraps up with Friday's noon championship game with live television coverage on the American Sports Network (ASN).

Tickets are available now at JMUTickets.com.

Dean commented on the importance for the Dukes to play at home heading into the tournament at home, saying, "I think it's important to play at home, and I think it's important that you're able to play well at home. Heading into the tournament, it was nice to be able to have a home series before the playoffs. It's a familiarity with the fans and atmosphere, because we've been getting huge crowds. So it's not like we've been playing away in front of 50 people and then come home to the tournament in front of 1,500. We got to play in front of 1,000 today and hopefully we'll get to do that again this week."

Celebrating the Seniors

Prior to first pitch, JMU honored its three senior student-athletes in catcher Erica Field, outfielder Hannah Hayes and utility player Jailyn Ford as well as manager Kim Fucci. With the two games played, all three players became the program's all-time record holders in games played with 224. They improved to 178-46 overall in their careers and 70-7 in the CAA.

Dean said, "Everybody looks at them on the softball field, but I get to deal with them every day for four years. They're incredible people. So when I look at them, it's not the softball that really jumps out at me, it's who they are as people. I realize how lucky I am to be a part of them."

Photo of the Game
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Pregame ceremonies also included recognition of long-time softball umpire Christie Cornwell, who is retiring after this year.
Complete photo gallery of senior day and game action.