Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

Cathedral City, Calif. - The day was mixed with emotion for the Fordham softball team on day two of the 2008 Palm Springs Classic. The Rams took on the world's best in Team USA, giving the Fordham student-athletes a memory they'll never forget. Unfortunately, the Rams' memory of this night will also include letting a game against Pacific slip away.

The Pacific Tigers (4-8) scored twice in the top of the seventh inning, and took advantage of five Fordham errors, as they came from behind to beat Fordham, 6-5.

Things looked good early on for the Rams, as they got the scoring started in the bottom of the second, scoring an unearned run. Mary Beth Puccio opened with a single. She sacrificed to second, and moved to third on a groundout. Stephanie Mott then hit a ground ball, which the third baseman couldn't handle, allowing Puccio to score.

The Rams then tacked on three more in the bottom of the third to make it, 4-0. Allison Twarowski opened the frame by reaching on an error, and was sacrificed to second. The Rams then had first and third, as Twarowski moved to third on a passed ball and Jocelyn Dearborn walked. After Dearborn stole second, Erin Fisher hit a foul ball that was dropped by the first baseman, keeping Fisher at the plate. She then ripped a single to left scoring Twarowski and moving Dearborn to third. Fisher then stole second, but the throw got away, allowing her to go to third and Dearborn to score. Puccio then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Fisher from third.

Pacific came back to score four runs in the top of the fifth inning on two hits and three Fordham errors. The Tigers got the first two runs on a ground ball by Lindsey Pierce and an RBI-single from Kellee Wilson. The final two runs came home on two straight Fordham errors.

Fordham grabbed the lead right back in the bottom half of the inning, as Erin Fisher crushed a solo home run to left center, her second of the season.

Pacific though wouldn't go away, as they picked up two runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Tigers got a pair of infield singles and an error to load the bases with two outs. Brianna Santos then hit a two-run single to center to give the Tigers a 6-5 lead.

The Rams did get a baserunner in the seventh with one out, but couldn't get her home.

For Fordham, Nicole Ayres (2-3) took the loss in relief, giving up two unearned runs and three hits, while striking out four. At the plate, Erin Fisher was 2-for-3 with a home run a stolen base, and two RBI, while Mary Beth Puccio was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

In the nightcap, the Rams played well against Team USA, making some fine play in an 8-0 exhibition loss in six innings.

Things started out great for Fordham during the first, as Twarowski turned a 5-3 double play on Team USA to keep the game scoreless.

Team USA then picked up two runs in each of the next five innings, highlight by a 251-foot home run by Andrea Duran in the third inning, which also scored Jessica Mendoza.

The Fordham bats didn't muster much against Team USA starter Lisa Fernandez, who struck out 10 batters, including nine in a row, over the first four innings.

All four members of Fordham pitching staff, Ayres (2 innings), Beckah Wiggins (3rd), Twarowski (4th), and Juanita Gonzalez (5th), all saw action in the circle for Fordham. Ayres threw the only scoreless inning in the first, as each pitcher gave up two runs. Gonzalez just missed posting a 1-2-3 inning, getting Jennie Finch to fly out to left and Lovieanne Jung to fly out to right, before allowing a walk and three singles.

The Rams did however get a couple of runners on base in the sixth inning, as Megan Shager and Wiggins both drew walks off Alicia Hollowell to start the frame. Hollowell then proceeded to strike out the next three hitters to end the game and finish with six strikeouts in two innings.

The Fordham softball team will have one more go at the 2008 Palm Springs Classic, as they meet #18 Ohio State at noon Eastern on Sunday, February 24th.