Newport News, Va. – The Atlantic 10 released its second batch of weekly honors and Fordham has nabbed its first of the 2018 campaign –
Paige Rauch has been named Rookie of the Week. Rauch was instrumental in helping Fordham to a 3-2 record at this past weekend's Diamond 9 Citrus Classic.
The Windsor, N.Y. native made three starts and one relief appearance, starting at second base and shortstop in the other two contests, and had a hand in four of the five decisions, walking away with a 3-1 record for the weekend. At the plate, Rauch slashed .357/.500/1.000 with a pair of home runs, a double, a triple, five walks, four RBs, and a team-high five runs.
In the tournament-opener against Ball State, Rauch held the Cardinals to three runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high six. She helped her own cause by blasted two solo home runs and walking once in five plate appearances, scoring three times. In the second game on Friday, she tallied one of Fordham's two hits against NR/RV Notre Dame and one of the team's five walks, as well.
On Saturday, she came on in relief against Robert Morris in game one, allowing just one hit over her 2.2 innings while striking out one as the Rams rallied for the victory against the Colonials. The freshman got the scoring started on the day with a bases-loaded walk and began the six-run sixth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Rauch picked up her first loss of the year against Troy shortly thereafter but did so despite allowing just one unearned run over six full innings on three hits and two walks, while also tripling in four at bats. In Sunday's finale against NR/RV Florida International, Rauch singled, walked, and scored both times, while recording the win by allowing two runs on four hits and five walks over seven complete innings, striking out five.
On the season, Rauch is slashing .310/.434/.786 with a team-high five home runs and 12 runs scored. She also paces the squad with 10 walks and 33 total bases. On the rubber, she has all four of Fordham's wins over six appearances, four starts, with a 1.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 32.0 innings.
The Rams are back in action this weekend at the Easton Crimson Classic, hosted by #13/13 Alabama. Fordham will play the hosts and Samford each twice then Boston College on Sunday. First up is Samford on Friday at 12 p.m. EST.
