Box Score March 25, 2009
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Bronx, N.Y. -
In what most would describe as a wild doubleheader, the Fordham softball team snapped a four-game slide with a doubleheader sweep of the Quinnipiac Bobcats at Bahoshy Field on Wednesday. In game one, Chelsea Plimpton threw a complete game two-hit shutout with four strikeouts, as Fordham topped Quinnipiac, 1-0, while in game two, Samantha Pellechio went 4-for-4 with three RBI, as the Rams won a wild affair, 11-5.
With the sweep, Fordham is now 18-12 on the season, while Quinnipiac falls to 5-18.
In the opener, the game set up as a pitcher's duel between Fordham's Chelsea Plimpton and Quinnipiac's Heather Schwartzburg, as neither offense mustered much. Over her seven innings, Plimpton (3-1) allowed just two hits, and only one batter reached second base.
Fordham had equal trouble figuring out Schwartzburg, as the Rams did not register a hit until the bottom of the sixth inning. The Rams however finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh, as Jessica Weckenman led off with a single up the middle, and was sacrificed to second by Megan Waldron. Pinch-hitter Beckah Wiggins then dropped a single into center, but Weckenman would hold at second. Melissa Andrews then hit a grounder to short, which was mishandled, loading the bases. Lindsey Kay Bright then plated Weckenman with a sacrifice fly to center to win the game.
In game two, Quinnipiac opened the scoring without the courtesy of a hit, as Christine Bourdeau, was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a pair of sacrifices.
Fordham came right back with a three-run first to take the 3-1 edge. Andrews led off with a single and stole second.
Samantha Pellechio then singled to left and took second on a throw home, but Andrews held at third.
Jocelyn Dearborn then plated Andrews with a single and took second on a throw with Pellechio going to third. Wiggins then lined out to short, but the shortstop would throw wide trying to get Pellechio at third, allowing her to score.
Maggie Seidel then ripped a single off the pitcher to score Dearborn.
Quinnipiac then regained the lead on a bizarre play in left field. With one out and the bases loaded, Quinnipiac pitcher Emily Bellush drove a deep drive to left, which hit the top of the fence and landed back in the field of play. Both teams thought the ball went over the fence, but no signal was made by the umpires. Bellush would round the bases with her teammates before the ball returned to the circle, counting for an inside the park grand slam home run.
Fordham then got a bizarre scoring play the following half inning to cut the Bobcat lead to 5-4. Bright would beat out an infield single, but Bellush's throw got by both the Quiinnipiac first baseman and right fielder, going all the way to the wall. Bright would motor around the bases, scoring on the three-base error.
The Rams then tied the game at five on an RBI-ground rule double by Pellechio in the bottom of the third inning, scoring Melissa Andrews from second, who reached on an error.
The Rams then broke the game open with a four-run fifth to take an 9-5 lead. Andrews led off with a single, followed by Bright beating out an infield single. Pellechio then ripped a shot of the third baseman's glove for an infield hit to load the bases. Dearborn then doubled to center, scoring a pair of runners. Wiggins then singled through the left side to score Pellechio and move Dearborn to third. Dearborn then scored on an RBI-ground out by Weckenman.
Fordham finished the scoring in the sixth with a pair of runs on an two-run double by Pellechio, scoring Andrews and Bright, who reached on a double and a walk, respectively.
Reliever Jen Mineau (8-7) got the win, pitching five innings of three-hit relief with five strikeouts. Starter Juanita Gonzalez pitched the first two innings, allowing five runs on two hits. At the plate, Pellechio was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, while Andrews was 3-for-5 with four runs scored. Bright went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Dearborn, Wiggins, adn Seidel each had two hits apiece.
The Fordham softball team will next be in action on Friday, March 27th, as they host Atlantic 10 opponent, La Salle University, at Bahoshy Field, beginning at 3:00 PM.
