Box Score April 7, 2009
Box Score
Teaneck, N.J. -
Playing through very frigid conditions in Teaneck, New Jersey, the Fordham softball team split their doubleheader with Fairleigh Dickinson, topping the Knights, 11-7 in nine innings, while dropping the nightcap, 9-1 in five innings.
With the split, Fordham is now 27-14 on the season, while Fairleigh Dickinson is 8-22.
In game one, Mary Beth Puccio and Samantha Pellechio each had four hits, including a home run, as the Rams outlasted the Knights, 11-7 in nine innings.
Fordham got the scoring started in the third, putting up three runs, highlighted by a two-run home run by Samantha Pellechio, her team-leading eighth of the season.
The score stayed at 3-0 in favor of Fordham until the bottom of the sixth, where the Knights got RBI-singles from Caitlin Bradac and Alexandra Schubert to cut the Rams' lead to 3-2. The Knights then tied the game at three with RBI-single by Lauren Hamilton, scoring Sheppard.
The game then went into extra innings, where the international tie-breaker rule came into effect. Fordham put that rule to use immediately, as Mary Beth Puccio connected for a double to left center, scoring Lindsey Kay Bright from second. Pellechio then singled through the right side to score Puccio for a 5-3 lead.
Fairleigh Dickinson then tied the game with a two-out two-run home run by Kirsten Shreve to tie the game at five.
The Rams then exploded for six runs in the top of the ninth inning to take an 11-5 lead. The inning started with an RBI-double by Melissa Andrews to give Fordham the lead. After an error, Puccio connected for a three-run home run to left center, her fourth of the season. Pellechio followed with a double, and then scored on a double by Jocelyn Dearborn. Meghan Shager then capped the scoring with an RBI-single, scoring Dearborn.
Fairleigh Dickinson would score twice in the bottom of the ninth, but would fall short of the Rams, 11-7.
Chelsea Plimpton improved to 8-1 on the season, as she threw the first eight innings, giving up four earned runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts, while Beckah Wiggins threw the ninth inning, allowing one run on three hits. At the plate, Puccio was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBI, while Pellechio was 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, and three RBI. Dearborn was 3-for-5 with two doubles with Andrews going 3-for-6 with a double and two runs scored.
In game two, the Knights capitalized on 12 walks and four Fordham errors, as they went on to a 9-1 win in five innings.
After Fairleigh Dickinson jumped out to a 3-0 lead on an error and two bases loaded walks, Fordham cut the lead to 3-1, as Jo Krasnisky hit a solo home run to center, her second of the season.
The Knights though scored three times in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead, highlighted by a home run by Sheppard and an RBI-double by Justina Augustine.
FDU then capped the game with a three-run fifth, as the Rams issued four walks, a hit batsman, and committed an error.
Wiggins (7-6) took the loss, pitching 3 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on three hits and seven walks, while Juanita Gonzalez pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up three unearned runs and walked five. Other than Krasnisky's home run, Pellechio registered the only other hit, a single in the second inning.
The Fordham softball team will next be in action on Thursday, April 9th, as they play at St. Bonaventure for an Atlantic 10 doubleheader, beginning at noon.
