#12, Left-Handed Pitcher, R/L

Jailyn Ford

James Madison University '16

Hometown: Hot Springs, Virginia

Jailyn Ford is a 5-foot-10 professional softball pitcher from Hot Springs, Virginia. She was acquired in the 3rd Round of the 2026 Allocation Draft following a collegiate career at James Madison.

Personal Life

Family: Daughter of Christie and Jeff Ford.

Education: Majored in sport and recreation management at James Madison.

Honors: Selected for induction into the James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame in September 2026.

Professional Experience

Other Professional Experience (2016–2026)

NPF: No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers. Led Akron to the 2017 NPF title and posted a 4-0 record with the NPF Champion USSSA Pride in 2018.

Japan Diamond League: Competed for Honda Reverta from 2017-25 before joining Toyota Red Terriers for the 2026 campaign.

International Experience (2013–2022)

Team USA: Led Team USA to a Gold medal at the 2022 World Games, posting a 1-0 record with a save. Guided the US to a Silver medal at the 2013 Junior Women’s World Championship. Earned two saves with a 1.40 ERA at the 2022 Canada Cup.

College Experience: James Madison (2013–2016)

Career Statistics: Started all 233 career games. Authored an 82-21 record as a pitcher with a 1.51 ERA (second-best in program history). Tallied 815 strikeouts, 70 complete games, and 31 shutouts. Offensively, posted a .339 batting average with 46 home runs and 156 RBIs.

Senior Year (2016): Posted a career-best 1.32 ERA. Hit .324 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Junior Year (2015): Posted a 16-5 record with a 2.96 ERA and 192 strikeouts. Tossed the first perfect game in JMU history against East Carolina on April 15, 2015.

Sophomore Year (2014): Compiled a 24-7 record with a 1.26 ERA and nine shutouts. Hit .268 with nine home runs.

Freshman Year (2013): Set school records with 24 wins, 209 strikeouts, and 15 home runs.

Awards & Honors

All-America: Three-time NFCA All-America performer, including First-Team status as a senior. First player in James Madison history to earn NFCA All-America honors.

Conference Honors: Four-time Pitcher of the Year. CAA Player of the Year as a junior and senior. CAA Rookie of the Year in 2013.

YEAR	W-L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	SO	LOB	BB	R	ER	HR	B/AVG	HB	CG	SHO	SV	B	S	WP
2026 AUSL	3-3	4.52	11	2	31.0	34	40	-	10	20	20	5	.279	6	1	-	1	173	377	2
Career Totals	3-3	4.52	11	2	31.0	34	40	-	10	20	20	5	.279	6	1	-	1	173	377	2

*The AUSL All-Star Cup was known as the Championship season through 2024.

DATE	HOME TEAM	AWAY TEAM	W-L	ERA	G	IP	H	SO	LOB	BB	R	ER	HR	B/AVG	HB	CG	SHO	SV	B	S	WP
7/20/2026	Blaze	Spark	0-0	7.00	1	3.0	4	5	-	1	3	3	-	.333	-	-	-	-	10	35	-
7/18/2026	Blaze	Spark	1-0	1.91	1	3.2	5	4	-	-	1	1	1	.313	-	-	-	-	24	39	-
7/14/2026	Volts	Spark	1-0	2.00	1	7.0	9	8	-	3	2	2	1	.321	1	1	-	-	40	85	-
7/11/2026	Spark	Talons	0-1	4.20	1	3.1	5	6	-	-	2	2	1	.333	1	-	-	-	16	45	1
7/9/2026	Spark	Talons	1-0	0.00	1	0.2	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	7	-
7/5/2026	Spark	Cascade	0-1	126.00	1	0.1	3	2	-	1	6	6	-	.600	1	-	-	-	8	13	1
7/1/2026	Spark	Blaze	0-0	2.33	1	3.0	1	3	-	1	1	1	-	.100	1	-	-	1	16	35	-
6/29/2026	Spark	Blaze	0-0	0.00	1	1.0	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	7	-
6/28/2026	Spark	Bandits	0-0	4.20	1	3.1	3	4	-	2	2	2	1	.273	-	-	-	-	24	45	-
6/27/2026	Spark	Bandits	0-1	5.73	1	3.2	4	1	-	1	3	3	1	.286	2	-	-	-	21	39	-
6/23/2026	Talons	Spark	0-0	0.00	1	2.0	-	4	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	27	-

*The AUSL All-Star Cup was known as the Championship season through 2024.

Highlights

1 Big unknown for each AUSL team in 2026

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season is more like a sprint than a marathon – 25 games for each of the six teams in just under two months. That leaves little time for slumps, and the downs need to turn around quickly. There are always unknowns going into Opening Day, and these questions for each […]

6/23/2026-
Jailyn Ford was reinstated from the temporary inactive list
5/20/2026-
Spark placed Jailyn Ford on the temporary inactive list
12/2/2025Spark
Spark drafted Jailyn Ford in the allocation draft: [Round 3, Pick 2 (14)]

DATE	TEAM	TRANSACTION
6/23/2026		Jailyn Ford was reinstated from the temporary inactive list
5/20/2026		Spark placed Jailyn Ford on the temporary inactive list
12/2/2025	Spark	Spark drafted Jailyn Ford in the allocation draft: [Round 3, Pick 2 (14)]