Box Score Feb. 22, 2009
Final Stats
Miami, Fla. -
The Fordham University softball squad closed out play at the FAIU Strike Out Cancer Tournament by splitting a pair of games at University Park, falling to Arkansas, 7-3 in nine innings in its first game on the day and then coming back to defeat FIU in the second game, 3-2.
In the win over FIU, the Rams rode the strong arm of freshman pitcher Jen Mineau, who threw a complete-game, four-hitter, striking out one, to pick up her team-leading third win of the year.
The game was scoreless until FIU picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth as Katie Bell and Kim Rodriguez led off with back-to-back singles, with each runner moving up a base on a throw, putting runners on second and third with no outs. One out later, Jenny Welch delivered both runners with a single.
Fordham got a run back in the top of the fifth as Lindsey Bright reached on a two-out infield single, stole second and came around to score on a Melissa Andrews single.
The Rams tied the game at two in the sixth when Erin Fisher opened the frame with a single and, one out later, stole second. After taking third on a wild pitch, Fisher came in on a Mary Beth Puccio single.
The score remained tied until the top of the seventh when Meghan Shager led off with a single, stole second and went to third on a throwing error from the FIU catcher. She then scored what proved to be the winning run on a Bright infield single.
The Golden Panthers threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Lana Lazar led off with a bunt single and was sacrificed to second. One out later, Desiree Fink reached on an error, moving Lazar to third, but Mineau got Bell to pop out to end the game.
Bright and Puccio each finished with a pair of hits and an RBI in the game for the Rams.
In the first game of the day, Fordham and Arkansas were scoreless heading into the seventh when the Razorbacks picked up two runs in the top of the inning on a Jessica Bachkora double.
The Rams came back to force extra frames in the home half of the seventh as with one out, Shager reached on a bunt single and Andrews followed with a home run, her first of the year.
The tournament used the international tiebreaking rule, as each team would start every extra inning with a runner on second. Arkansas took advantage of the runner in the eighth to score on a sacrifice fly but Fordham came right back in the bottom of the inning. Richards was placed on second for the Rams in the bottom of the eighth and two outs later, scored on a Fisher single to tie the game at three.
But the Razorbacks scored four times in the top of the ninth, taking advantage of three Fordham errors to pull out the 7-3 win.
Andrews and Fisher each picked up two hits for the Rams against Arkansas with one of Andrews' being a two-run home run. Chelsea Plimpton threw the first seven innings for Fordham, allowing six hits and two runs while fanning one.
The Rams will next be in action on Friday, February 27th as they travel down to Greenville, N.C., to participate in the ECU Pirate Classic at East Carolina University. Fordham will open play on Friday by facing Delaware at 12:00 p.m.
