Box Score May 10, 2008
Box Score
Charlotte, N.C. -
Following last night's extra inning affair, the Fordham softball team was ready early Saturday morning to take on the Charlotte 49ers and advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship for the third time in four years. However, the storybook ending went to the 49ers, scoring a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to win, 2-1, and eliminate Fordham from the tournament.
With the loss, the storied career of seniors Allison Twarowski and Allison Storc came to a bittersweet end, as they finished their time at Fordham with class and the admiration of their team and the Fordham faithful.
Much like the rest of the tournament, the two teams had a rough time getting runs. Charlotte had the first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first as Sarah Malene reached on an infield single and moved to second on an error. After a sacrifice bunt, Malene tried to score on a ground ball to first, but Erin Fisher pegged a throw to Allison Storc to get Malene at the plate and end the threat.
Fordham threatened to break the tie in the top of the fourth. Meghan Shager led off with an infield single and was sacrificed to second. Mary Beth Puccio was then hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second with one out. Charlotte's Emily Jeffrey though got out of the jam, getting Storc to fly out and Jocelyn Dearborn to strike out.
The Rams again just missed breaking the scoreless tie, as they loaded the bases in the fifth. Fisher drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by Megan Waldron. Melissa Andrews then singled through the left side to load the bases, bringing Shager to the plate. Jeffrey though again found her way out of the jam with a strikeout of Shager and a fielder's choice by Allison Twarowski.
Charlotte then tried to grab the lead, but was again denied by Fisher and Storc. With runners at first and second, Malene reached on an infield single, and Emily Forbes tried to score from second. Fisher responded with another bullet throw to Storc for the out at the plate.
In the sixth, Fordham thought they were going to get out of the inning with no damage, as Charlotte had second and third with one out. Cee Brooks looked to have fouled off a pitch off the plate and the ball ran back to the backstop. The umpire though called that Brooks did not foul the ball off, and Whitney Williams scored on the wild pitch.
In the seventh, the resilient Rams came back to tie the game at one, as Samantha Pellechio led off with a double to left, and was pinch run for by Sarah Campbell. Erin Fisher then hit a deep fly to right center, which was caught, allowing Campbell to move to third. Waldron then took the count full against reliever Katy Hackett, where she just got under the payoff pitch, which the Charlotte first baseman made a sliding catch down the line. Andrews then hit a chopper to third, which Jenny Rumbles couldn't field, allowing Campbell to tie the game.
Charlotte came right back as Keri Palma led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left center. After Palma moved to third on a wild pitch, Tenaya Tucker hit a ground out to Stephanie Mott with the runner holding at third. Rumbles then made up for the error, hitting a line drive to center. Andrews made a leaping grab for the out, but could not throw out Palma at the plate, scoring on the sacrifice fly.
Twarowski (13-10) was the hard luck loser, allowing two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. At the plate, Fordham left seven runners on bases in the game, managing just four hits, as Pellechio, Andrews, Shager, and Waldron each had one.
Following the championship game, Fordham's Allison Twarowski, Meghan Shager, and Mary Beth Puccio were named to the All-Championship team.
The Rams end their 2008 season at 36-30.
