Box Score May 7, 2008
Photo Gallery (Courtesy of Tom Wasiczko/Fordham Softball)
Box Score
Charlotte, N.C. -
The 2008 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship opened in fine fashion for the Fordham Rams, as senior Allison Twarowski threw her first career complete game shutout, while Meghan Shager drove home the lone run of the game, as the fourth-seeded Rams topped the fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's Hawks, 1-0, at Charlotte's Phillips Softball Complex.
With the win, Fordham improves to 34-28 overall, while Saint Joseph's drops to 18-22.
Much like their last meeting, Twarowski and Saint Joseph's Dani Gonzales were in a pitcher's duel, keeping both offenses off the basepaths.
Saint Joseph's had the first scoring chance in the fourth, as Erika Rosenwinkel led off with a single and stole second. After a groundout moved her to third, the Fordham defense came up big, as Kelsey Moir grounded out to Erin Fisher and Gonzales fouled out to Allison Storc to end the threat, leaving Rosenwinkel stranded.
In the fifth, Twarowski still kept the Hawk hitters off balance, striking out the side and giving Fordham some momentum in the bottom half of the frame.
The Rams took that momentum and broke the scoreless tie with a single run. Jocelyn Dearborn started the rally with a one-out single through the left side. Samantha Pellechio then hit a ground ball to short, which Dana Bieniek couldn't handle, leaving runners at first and second. Meghan Shager then singled up the middle to score Dearborn from second.
After retiring the side in the sixth, Fordham had to dose another potential rally by the Hawks in the top of the seventh. Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Brooke Darreff took the first offering from Twarowski and drove it deep to center, hitting the top of wall for a leadoff double. Maggie Prisinzano then pinch ran for Darreff and sacrificed to third. Twarowski and the Rams' defense then came up big again inducing two ground balls which ended the game without the runner scoring.
Twarowski (12-9) had a career day in the circle, pitching her first career complete game shutout, allowing four hits, no walks, and striking out five. Dearborn, Shager, and Stephanie Mott were all 1-for-2 in the game with Shager driving in the only run of the game.
The Rams will now take on top-seeded and 22nd ranked Massachusetts at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 8th at the Phillips Softball Complex. This is different from the original game start of 2:00 PM, due to possible rain.
