Newport News, Va. – For the second consecutive week and third time this season, Fordham softball freshman standout
Paige Rauch has been named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. Rauch starred at the plate and in the circle to help the Rams go 3-0 over the past week.
The Windsor, N.Y. native enjoyed a tremendous two-way week, slashing .667/.833/2.500 and tossing a one-hit shutout in her lone pitching appearance. Rauch didn't record a hit at Iona in midweek but steal reached twice via two walks, scoring once. At Rhode Island for a doubleheader on Saturday, Rauch didn't record an out. She led each contest off with a solo home run and added a third home run, a triple, four walks, five runs scored, five runs driven in, and a steal, as well, on the day.
In game one, Rauch gave last week's A-10 Pitcher of the Week
Madie Aughinbaugh all the offense she would need with that leadoff blast. Rauch followed it up, though, with a two-run shot in the fourth inning and a RBI triple in the fifth, her fifth of the season, which is tied for most in the Atlantic 10. Her 11 total bases on the day tied for the third-most in a single game.
In game two, she provided all the offense she would need with her leadoff home run. After that, Rhody intentionally walked Rauch the next three times she came up, which is tied for the second-most in a single game in program history. Following one of those, she stole second and came around to score. In the circle, the freshman hurler saw three Rams reach base. The first came on an error in the first inning, the second was a leadoff single in the sixth, and the third was a leadoff walk in the seventh. Otherwise, Rauch was perfect to go with her five punchouts.
With her week, Rauch saw her season-long slash line improve to .327/.476/.761, while her ERA dropped to 1.49. Rauch leads the team with 12 home runs, 43 runs scored, 34 RBIs, five triples, and 31 walks. The triples already rank joint-seventh in a single campaign and the walk tally is one away from the all-time top-10.
Fordham is back in action on Wednesday afternoon when St. Bonaventure comes to the Bronx for a midweek conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Bahoshy.
