Box Score May 3, 2008
Box Score
Mt. Vernon, Va. -
The easiest way to describe the series finale between George Washington and Fordham was a wild, roller coaster affair, featuring 17 runs, 27 hits, and eight errors. The Rams though came out on top, 13-4, behind a career-high five RBI from Mary Beth Puccio and three hits from Allison Storc and Melissa Andrews.
With the win, Fordham officially clinched a spot in the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship, improving to 33-26 overall, 11-7 in the Atlantic 10, while George Washington was eliminated from playoff contention, finishing their season at 12-27, 8-10 in the league.
Fordham got on the board immediately in the first, as Melissa Andrews led off with a double, stole third, and scored on a triple by Allison Storc.
The Rams made it 2-0 in the second as Meghan Shager reached on a one-out single and stole second. Megan Waldron then knocked a shot up the middle, where the shortstop's throw went wide, allowing Shager to score.
George Washington cut the lead in half at 2-1, as Amanda Holst reached on an error with two out, moved to second on a single by Caroline Howe, and scored on a double by Chrysanthi Halkiotis.
The Colonials then tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Amanda Gabriel, scoring Katie Terrazas, who reached on a walk and moved to third on a double by Jackie Yaniga.
The Rams then exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on a number of George Washington miscues. Jocelyn Dearborn started the inning by reaching on a dropped fly ball in left, advancing to second. Shager then reached on a fielder'choice, where the throw went errant, moving Dearborn to second. Stephanie Mott then hit a ground ball that went right through the pitcher's legs, allowing Dearborn to score. Mott later stole second and Allison Twarowski drew a walk to load the bases. Mary Beth Puccio then cleared the bases with the first hit of the inning, a three-run double to center. Storc then hit a bleeding single to center, scoring Puccio.
The Colonials fought their way back to within three, 7-4, with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, as they loaded the bases and got an RBI-single from Tori Sensi and a sacrifice fly by Terrazas.
The Rams regained a four-run edge with a single run in the sixth. Mott and Andrews led off with back-to-back singles and were advanced on a sacrifice by Twarowski. Puccio then scored Mott with a sacrifice fly.
Fordham then tacked on five runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 13-4 lead. Samantha Pellechio got things started with a single and was pinch run for by Sarah Campbell. After a passed ball and single by Shager, Erin Fisher connected on a three-run home run to right, her seventh of the season. Stephanie Mott then doubled to center and scored on a single by Andrews. Puccio then ripped her second double of the afternoon to score Andrews.
Fordham finished with 15 hits in the game, led by Storc, who finished 3-for-5 with two triples and two RBI. Her two triples tied the Fordham single game mark set by Meghan Connelly back in 2002. Puccio also had a day with a career-high five RBI and two doubles, while Andrews was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Mott and Shager also finished with two hits and three runs each.
Nicole Ayres (10-8) got the win, pitching three inning of relief with two strikeouts.
The Fordham softball team will wrap up their Atlantic 10 regular season on Sunday, May 4th, as they take on La Salle University at noon. The game will be held at Temple's Ambler Softball Complex.
