MADISON − On the mound she was in control. And though she also played some great defense, it was her work at the plate the stood out the most on Saturday against Fluvanna County. Madison County’s Jordan Aylor provided all the run support that she needed in the first inning when she turned on a changeup and sent it over the fence in left-center in the Mountaineers’ 7-1 win.
“When you start off like that it kind of sets the path for you,” said Madison coach Jesse Yowell of the big first inning. “That started the flow of everything and kept us going.”
The Flucos were able to get on board in the top of the first after Alex Fields picked up a two-out single and was driven home on an error, but Aylor’s blast in the bottom half of the inning put Madison in front by two runs.
“I just wanted to get a big hit,” Aylor said of her 3-run homer “I wasn’t trying to swing for the fence, I just wanted a base hit and I swung and it just happened to be my lucky day.”
Aylor settled in on the mound, striking out the side in second, and giving up just three hits while issuing no walks over the next five innings of work.
“I was happy because I had been struggling,” Aylor said. “It was good to get out there and get back to my old self and fire it in there. I had better speed today and that’s what gets me going.”
Offensively, Madison added to its lead in the second, fifth and sixth innings with Caitlin Ford and Karri Carpenter knocking in a pair of runs each. Ford finished the game 2 for 4 while Aylor was 2 for 3. Megan Clark also was 2 for 3 and had a pair of stolen bases.
While Fluvanna struggled to get on base, it wasn’t because they didn’t put the ball in play. The Flucos kept the Madison defense busy, but athletic plays from Aylor on a diving infield catch and spectalur grab from left fielder Macy Dyer wound up stealing a pair of runs from Fluvanna.
For Fluvanna, Ashleigh Harris and Fields each were 1 for 3. Kaitlin Driver drove in the lone Fluco run.
“Obviously we’ve got to score more than one run if we want to win,” said Fluvanna coach Nick Ward. “But you’ve got to give all the credit to Madison and Aylor. She pitched a great game.”
The Flucos have dropped three straight games, but have also faced three stellar pitchers in a row and Ward thinks that should help prepare them for Jefferson District play.
“We’ve faced three really good pitchers, but at the same time, Orange always has great pitching, (Taylor) Collier at William Monroe, (Victoria) Scott at Monticello – we don’t get a break in the district,” Ward said.
The Flucos (1-3) will open up Jefferson District play with Western Albemarle on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Madison (4-2) hosts Orange County on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
