Box Score March 6, 2009
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Clearwater, Fla. -
The Fordham softball team opened played at the USF/Under Armour Invitational earning a split of their first two games, topping Lehigh in extra innings, while falling to host USF. With the split, Fordham is now 6-7 on the season.
In the first game of the day, Melissa Andrews singled home Beckah Wiggins in the bottom of the eighth to give Fordham a 7-6 come-from-behind win over Lehigh.
Lehigh (7-5) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI ground ball by Julie Fernandez. The lead didn't last, as Fordham scored twice in the bottom of the first to grab a 2-1 lead. Fordham's Lindsey Kay Bright led off with a single and stole second and third. After a walk to Samantha Pellechio, Mary Beth Puccio put down a perfect squeeze play bunt to score Bright and move Pellechio to second. Erin Fisher then looped a single to center to score Pellechio.
The Mountainhawks knotted the game at two in the top of the third on an RBI-double by Fernandez, scoring Carly Potock, who reached on a single.
Lehigh then took a 4-2 lead with two runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI-single by Brooke Lewis and a pinch-hit sacrifice fly by Sam Miller.
Lehigh extended their lead to 6-2 with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fifth. With two outs and runners on second and third, Lewis hit a ground ball to short, that went through Pellechio's legs, allowing both runners to score.
The Rams then rallied with two runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game at six and force extra innings. After walks to Fisher and Jocelyn Dearborn, Jo Krasnisky crushed a pinch-hit double to left to score both runners for her first career hit and make it a 6-4 game.
Lehigh tried to respond in the top of the seventh by getting the bases loaded with one out. Alex Cueva hit a fly ball to center, which Andrews caught and then threw out Gonzlaes at the plate for a double play.
In the seventh, Bright and Andrews reached on back-to-back bunt singles. After a sac bunt and a line out, Fisher drew another walk to load the bases. Dearborn then connected for a ground rule double that hopped over the center field fence, tying the game at six.
In the eighth, Lehigh threatened to regain the lead, but Audra Wood would line out to short, which Pellechio doubled up the runner at third to keep the game tied. In the Rams' half of the eighth, Beckah Wiggins was placed on second as a part of the international tiebreaker rule. After a pop out, Shager singled to left center, putting runners at first and third base. Shager then stole second, but Bright would strike out looking for the second out of the inning. Andrews then came through with a looping single to center to score Wiggins and win the game for Fordham.
Wiggins (3-3) picked up the win in relief, pitching five innings of four-hit ball, giving up three unearned runs. At the plate, Krasnisky and Dearborn each drove in two runs, while Shager, Bright, and Andrews each had a pair of hits.
In game two, USF's Kristen Gordon and Fordham's Jen Mineau got into a pitcher's duel, where the difference was a two-run double by Jeanine Richardson to give the Bulls a 2-0 win over Fordham.
USF (15-9) started the scoring in the top of the third, picking up a pair of unearned runs. Alison Savarese started the frame, reaching on an error, and was singled to second by Gina Kafalas. After a sacrifice fly and a fly out, Janine Richardson doubled down the left line, scoring both runners.
USF's Kristen Gordon (3-3) would hold Fordham in check the rest of the way, as she totaled 12 strikeouts on the night, allowing just two hits and three walks. Fordham's best chance to score was in the sixth, as Dearborn singled to left and advanced to third on the throw from the outfield. Gordon though got Fisher to fly out to left to end the inning.
Fordham's Jen Mineau (3-4) was the hard luck loser, giving up two unearned runs on five hits, while striking out six. Bright and Dearborn each recorded a hit and a walk, while Bright also stole her tenth base of the season.
The Rams will continue play at the USF/Under Armour Invitational on Saturday, March 7th, as they meet Virginia Tech at 1:00 PM, followed by a bracket game. A reminder to all Fordham fans to vote for the All-Tournament team, starting Saturday on GoUSFBulls.com.
