Box Score March 18, 2009
Box Score
Chapel Hill, N.C. -
The Fordham softball spring break trip hit their next stop on Wednesday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with mixed in results, as they split two games, defeating Longwood, while falling to #18/18 North Carolina. With the split, Fordham is now 16-9 on the season.
In game one, Chelsea Plimpton threw a five-hit shutout, while Samantha Pellechio collected three hits, as the Rams shut out Longwood (9-11), 3-0.
Scoring chances were at a premium as Longwood's Brianna Wells and Fordham's Chelsea Plimpton locked up in a scoreless game through the first four and half innings.
Fordham then cracked the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Beckah Wiggins led off with a double to left center, and was sacrificed to third by Meghan Shager. Melissa Andrews then reached on a fielding error by the Longwood shortstop, but picked up the RBI, as Wiggins scored on the play. After a sacrifice bunt by Lindsey Kay Bright, Mary Beth Puccio dumped a single into right, scoring Andrews for a 2-0 lead.
The Rams extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of a couple of Longwood errors. Erin Fisher started the inning by reaching on an error by the shortstop. After a pop up, Wiggins hit a grounder to the pitcher, which she could not field, allowing Fisher to go to third on the play. Shager then drove in Fisher with a fielder's choice.
Plimpton (2-0) took care of the rest, as she threw the complete game five-hit shutout, striking out three batters. At the plate, Samantha Pellechio was a perfect 3-for-3, while Puccio was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Fisher and Wiggins were both 1-for-3 with a run scored.
In game two, North Carolina's Anna Roberts was 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Whitney Allen also had three RBI, as #18/18 North Carolina topped Fordham, 12-6.
North Carolina (23-7) opened with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Christine Knauer opened the frame with a single of the diving glove hand of Jocelyn Dearborn, which was followed by a walk to Breanna Brown. After a fielder's choice left runners at first and third, Fordham starter Jen Mineau got Brittany McKinney to strike out for the second out. However, Whitney Allen would draw a walk to load the bases with Anna Roberts and Emily Troup following with back-to-back RBI-singles for a 2-0 advantage.
The Rams then got the offense rolling with a four-run third inning to take a 4-2 lead. Jessica Weckenman and Shager led off with back-to-back walks, and then advanced a base on a passed ball. Andrews then dropped a single into right, scoring Shager, and taking second on the throw home. Bright then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. After North Carolina starter Danielle Spaulding got Puccio and Pellechio to strike out, Dearborn ripped a bases clearing triple to right center, scoring Shager, Andrews, and Bright.
The Tar Heels came right back to tie the game at four in the bottom half of the third. After getting the initial out, the Rams thought they retired Allen on a ground out to short, but after an appeal, Allen was called safe as the umpire said Sarah Campbell came off the bag. Roberts then took the next offering from Mineau over the left center field fence for a two-run home run, her second of the year.
North Carolina then retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth without the courtesy of a hit. Knauer opened with a walk, and sacrificed to third by Brown, but Dearborn didn't field the ball cleanly, allowing Brown to reach second on the play. Spaulding then hit a ground out to short, where Knauer took off on the throw, sliding around the tag safely at the plate. Later in the inning, the Tar Heels loaded the bases and scored another run on a passed ball.
The Tar Heels then opened up an 11-4 lead with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Allen.
Fordham would hang around in the sixth, as Weckenman connected for a two-run home run to center, the first of her career, scoring Megan Waldron, who had walked, making the score, 11-6.
North Carolina made it 12-6 in the bottom half of the inning, as they got a bases loaded walk to Allen to force in the final run of the ballgame.
Mineau (7-5) took the loss, allowing six runs, three earned, on four hits with six walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, Weckenman was 2-for-2 with a home run and two runs scored, while Dearborn was 1-for-4 with a triple and three RBI.
The Rams will next be in action on Thursday, March 19th, as they play at N.C. State, beginning at 4:00 PM.
