Box Score March 7, 2009
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Clearwater, Fla. -
It was a day of firsts for Fordham softball on day two of the Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, as they picked up victories over Virginia Tech and Hofstra for the first time ever by scores of 3-2 and 2-1, respectively. The Rams were previously a combined 0-19 against both squads. With the wins, Fordham moves over the .500 mark at 8-7.
Against Virginia Tech, the Fordham pitching duo of Jen Mineau and Beckah Wiggins held the Hokies to just six hits, while Jocelyn Dearborn hit her fourth home run of the season, as the Rams posted their first ever win over Virginia Tech, 3-2. It was the first victory in 13 tries against the Hokies, who made the College World Series last season.
The Rams opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first. Lindsey Kay Bright opened with an infield single and stole second. Meghan Shager then plated her with a single to center and moved to second on the throw home. After a passed ball moved Shager to third, Jocelyn Dearborn lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Shager for a 2-0 lead.
Virginia Tech responded right away with a single run in the bottom of the first. Charisse Mariconda drew a two-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a double by Jessica Everhart.
Fordham regained a two-run advantage in the top of the third, as Dearborn connected for a solo home run to left, her fourth of the season.
Virginia Tech closed it to 3-2 in the fifth on an RBI-double by Jenna Rhodes, but she would be thrown out at the plate later in the inning by Melissa Andrews to keep the Rams in the lead.
Fordham's Jen Mineau then took over in the circle for starter Beckah Wiggins, recording the final six outs for her first career save. Wiggins (4-3) got the win, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings of work. At the plate, Lindsey Kay Bright was 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, while Jocelyn Dearborn had a home run and two RBI.
In game two, Jen Mineau allowed just three hits and struck out six, while Samantha Pellechio connected for a two-run home run in the first, as the Rams topped Hofstra, 2-1. It was the first time in eight all-time meetings that Fordham defeated Hofstra.
Fordham got out to the quick start in the first, as Samantha Pellechio cracked a two-run home run to left center, scoring Mary Beth Puccio, who had singled.
Hofstra got a run back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI-single by Sara Michalowski.
The rest of the game belonged to Jen Mineau, as she allowed only one runner past second over the first six innings. In the seventh, Hofstra tried to rally for the tying run, as Michelle DePasquale opened the inning with a single to right. After a pop up, Joanna Kralowetz drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Mineau however would get Carolann Lubach to ground into a 5-3 double play to end the game for the win.
Mineau (4-4) finished with six strikeouts on the night, allowing one run on three hits. At the plate, Shager and Puccio each had a pair of hits, while Pellechio had the two-run home run. Defensively, Sarah Campbell made her return to first base, recording 14 putouts in the game.
The Rams will now play one more time at the USF/Under Armour Invitational on Sunday, March 8th, as they meet Boston University in the final of "B" bracket at noon.
