Softball Receives Votes in First Edition of USA Today/NFCA Poll

NFCA Release

Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team received 10 votes in the first edition of the 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association weekly poll, it was announced on Tuesday morning. The Rams are tied with South Carolina for 30^th in the country according to the poll, the program's first votes since the 2012 preseason poll.
 
"I am excited and proud to see the team get recognized for their hard work, preparation, and performance this past weekend," Head coach Bridget Orchard said, "We look forward to continuing to work hard and obtain our goals."
 
Fordham opened its 2017 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Baylor, then ranked 21^st in the country and now ranked 23^rd, thanks to a complete game shutout by senior Lauren Quense and the go-ahead solo home run by reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Jessica Hughes.
 
The Rams fell, 8-1, to #10 Arizona, in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, but rebounded with victories over Tulsa, CSUN, and Northwestern over the next two days. Both Tulsa and Northwestern received votes in the preseason NFCA poll.
 
Quense finished her weekend with a 3-0 record, two complete games, and a 1.72 ERA, earning A-10 Pitcher of the Week recognition on Monday. Hughes also had a two-run home run against Tulsa, and both Sydney Canessa and Skylar Johnston added two-run blasts, as well. Sophomore Madison Shaw's pinch-hit walk-off homer helped Fordham defeat CSUN early Saturday afternoon.
 
The Rams are back in action this weekend at East Carolina's Pirate Clash, with two contests apiece against Northeast Conference foes Bryant and Saint Francis, plus a one-off against the hosts on Saturday evening. First game is against the Bulldogs on Friday at noon.