Box Score May 9, 2008
Photo Gallery (Courtesy of Tom Wasiczko/Fordham Softball)
Box Score
Charlotte, N.C. -
Just when you think you've seen everything, something else happens.
It took five hours and 13 minutes, 19 hits, and two lightning delays but the Fordham Rams kept their Atlantic 10 Softball Championship hopes alive with an 8-2 13-inning win over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at the Phillips Softball Complex in Charlotte, N.C.
It tied the longest game in Atlantic 10 history, while the Rams set or tied four other game records, including having 19 hits in the game.
The scoring started in the bottom of the third inning, as St. Bonaventure got an RBI-single from Andrea Swanger, scoring Shelly Seeger, who reached on a walk.
The Bonnies then increased the lead to 2-0 in the fourth, as Stephanie Narde walked, and advanced to second on a single by Patricia McKeon. After a pinch runner came in for Narde, Ashley Kotz singled to right center, scoring Blair Freeman.
The Rams cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth, as Jocelyn Dearborn led off with a single through the right side. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Erin Fisher doubled to center, scoring Dearborn.
Fordham then tied the game at two in the sixth. Mary Beth Puccio singled with one out, and was pinch run for by Sarah Campbell. After Campbell moved to second on a ground out, Dearborn hit a hard grounder to third that Brianna Bricker could not field. Bricker then threw the ball away, allowing Campbell to score from second.
The game then went to extra innings, which featured two separate lightning delays, where neither team could plate the go-ahead run until the 13th inning, where Fordham scored six times in the top half of the inning to take an 8-2 lead.
Samantha Pellechio opened the inning with a single up the middle, followed by a double by Fisher, her third hit of the game. Stephanie Mott then reached on an infield single, her third of the game, to load the bases. After a strikeout, Meghan Shager singled up the middle, scoring Pellechio for a 3-2 lead. Allison Twarowski then reached on an error, allowing two runners to score.
Puccio then knocked a double down the left field line, her fourth hit of the game tying an Atlantic 10 record, scoring Shager and moving Twarowski to third. Allison Storc then plated Twarowski with a ground out, followed by an RBI-double by Dearborn, giving Fordham an 8-2 lead.
Following the six-run outburst in the 13th inning, the story of the game was Fordham pitcher Nicole Ayres (11-9), as she was absolutely stellar in nine innings of relief for the win. She allowed just three hits, no walks, and struck out seven batters against St. Bonaventure, allowing just two runners to get to second base. Twarowski got the start in the game, lasting four innings, allowing two runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
At the plate, all but one starter had a hit in the game, with six players having at least two hits. Puccio led the attack, going 4-for-7 with a double and an RBI, while Fisher was 3-for-6 with two doubles and an RBI. Shager was 3-for-7 with her second game-winning RBI of the tournament, with Mott going 3-for-5.
Due to both of Friday's games going extra innings, the third game was not able to be played. Therefore, Fordham will now take on Charlotte at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 10th for the right to take on Massachusetts for the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Atlantic 10 Records Set In This Game
At Bats in a Game - Fordham - 58 (previous was 48 by Temple, 1997)
Hits in a Game - Fordham - 19 (previous was 17 by Rutgers, 1984)
Atlantic 10 Records Tied In This Game
Longest Game - 13 innings (previous was 13 between Temple and Saint Joseph's, 1997)
Individual Hits in a Game - Mary Beth Puccio - 4 (done by eight other players)
Individual Doubles in a Game - Erin Fisher - 2 (done by 10 other players)
Team Doubles in a Game - Fordham - 4 (done twice, last by UMass, 1992)
