University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
#7 James Madison
Blue Hens Fall To Seventh-Ranked James Madison, 2-0, at CAA Championship
5/11/2016 7:48:00 PM | Softball
• Boxscore (pdf)
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- James Madison pitcher Jailyn Ford fired a three-hit shutout as the seventh-ranked Dukes recorded a 2-0 victory over the University of Delaware softball team on Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Park during the second day of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship.
The fifth-seeded Blue Hens, who dropped to 30-20 on the season, will face the winner of Wednesday night's game between Elon and Charleston on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Top-seeded JMU, which improved to 44-4, will face Towson on Thursday at 12 noon.
The Dukes took the early lead during the bottom of the first inning, as Erica Field led off with a single to center and two outs later scored on an RBI triple to leftcenter by Ford, the CAA Player of the Year.
JMU looked to add to its lead in the second when Niki Prince drilled a long flyball to rightcenter, but UD centerfielder Hannah George made an incredible running catch against the wall to keep it a one-run game. The Dukes then loaded the bases by working three consecutive two-out walks in the third, but Blue Hen pitcher Carolyn Szymanski retired Taylor Newton on a groundball to escape the jam.
JMU added a run in the fourth when Jessica Mrozek led off with an infield single and two outs later Hannah Hayes singled home pinch runner Tahli Moore.
After a 75-minute weather delay, Ford struck out the side in the top of the fifth, and JMU looked to put the game away by loading the bases with two outs. But Szymanski fielded a bunt by Madyson Moran and threw to the plate for the force out to keep it a 2-0 game.
Following another rain delay, Leanna Gearhart walked and Anna Steinmetz singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the sixth. But Ford recovered to strike out Mariah Kondravy and Alyshia Dellatore to keep the Blue Hens off the board.
Szymanski opened the top of the seventh by drilling a pitch off the rightfield fence, but she was thrown out trying to advance to second base on a strong throw by Newton. Ford then retired Shelby Jones on a groundout and struck out Kiersten Coffman to end the game.
Ford improved to 16-2 after scattering three hits and striking out 11 batters, while Szymanski allowed just two runs on seven hits as she dropped to 12-11 on the year. Steinmetz had two singles for the Blue Hens, while Szymanski added one.
Game Notes:
• Delaware was shut out for just the third time this season
• JMU defeated the Blue Hens for the 15th straight meeting
• Delaware dropped to 0-16 all-time vs. ranked opponents
• Jones moved into fourth place in UD history by appearing in her 196th career game
• Steinmetz now has 50 hits on the season, and extended her hitting streak to five
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
