Junior Jailyn Ford and freshman Megan Good accounted for all seven James Madison softball wins last week and the duo was rewarded for their stellar pitching, as Ford was named Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week while Good was tabbed Rookie of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday.
“I was pleased the way our pitchers handled themselves when our bats were quiet,” Head Coach Mickey Dean said. “Their understanding of situations puts our defense at ease and allows play to be made behind them. I am happy with their focus and persistent attack of opposing hitters.”
Ford went 3-0 on the seven-game road trip with an unblemished 0.00 ERA. She made four appearances, and allowed just two batters to reach base in her 17.1 innings pitched with one hit and one walk to improve to 6-4 in 2015. She struck out 26 batters and came one batter shy of throwing the program’s first perfect game against Butler as she pitched 6.2 innings without allowing one base runner in the 1-0 win.
She also came in to pitch 1.2 innings of relief and earned the save in JMU’s 2-1 comeback triumph at 20th-ranked UCF. Following the UCF triumph, she was named the Most Valuable Player of the UCF Spring Fling Tournament. She also hit .421 (8-19) with one home run, five RBIs, seven runs scored and three walks. She recorded two extra base hits, including a triple in the one-run win over Butler, which she would score the game-winning run in.
Good went 4-0, throwing three complete games, including two shutouts, during JMU’s week-long road trip. She had a 0.28 ERA after allowing just two runs (one earned) and 16 hits in her 25.1 innings pitched. She struck out 27 opposing batters and walked just one to improve to 9-0 this season. Good was named to the UCF Spring Fling All-Tournament Team. She also hit .417 (10-24) from the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Her final victory of the week came at nationally-ranked UCF, which she allowed just one run and four hits against. She also had a three-hit game at Winthrop and went a perfect 4-for-4, a season high in hits, against UIC in the opening game at the UCF Tournament.
Ford earned her second CAA Pitcher of the Week accolade of the season, having also won it on Feb. 17. Good racked up her third conference laurel of the season, as she was Pitcher of the Week on March 3 and Rookie of the Week on Feb. 17.
Joining Ford and Good on the list of the CAA’s best was Drexel’s Leticia Matsuoka, who was named Player of the Week after hitting .571 in the Dragons’ 3-1 week, which she had six RBIs while scoring six herself.
The Dukes, who have won eight straight to push their record to 17-6, return to action Wednesday evening when they host Virginia for a doubleheader at 5 and 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. JMU also opens up CAA play Saturday andSunday when it treks up to Towson for three games.
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Chris Graham
