Box Score May 3, 2009
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Amherst, Mass. -
In a long line of Fordham firsts this season, the Fordham softball team earned a split of games at #24/19 Massachusetts on Sunday, getting their first ever win in Amherst, as the Rams took the nightcap, 5-4, while dropping game one by a 4-0 count. The win also snapped UMass' regular season home winning streak at 54 games.
With the win, Fordham finishes the regular season at 36-20 overall, 13-7 in the Atlantic 10, while UMass goes to 35-8 overall, 16-2 in league play. The victory marked Fordham's second over a ranked team this season, having beat then #12/14 Fresno State in the opening tournament of the season.
In game two, Fordham's Melissa Andrews and Beckah Wiggins both homered, as the Rams snapped UMass' 54-game home winning streak with a 5-4 win. It was the first regular season loss at home for the Minutewomen, since 2006.
Fordham got on the board in the first, taking advantage of a Massachusetts error. With two outs, Mary Beth Puccio drove a fly ball to left, which Samantha Salato dropped, allowing Puccio to reach second. Samantha Pellechio then drove an RBI-single up the middle, scoring Puccio from second.
The Rams then put together a four-run outburst in the top of the second to go ahead, 5-0. Beckah Wiggins started out the inning, swinging at the first pitch, and hitting a solo home run to left center, her second of the season. Jessica Weckenman then drew a walk, followed by a two-run home run by Melissa Andrews, her fourth of the season. Sarah Plourde then came in to relieve UMass starter Bailey Sanders, but she would walk her first batter, Lindsey Kay Bright. Bright then stole second, and scored on an RBI-single by Puccio.
UMass then got on the board with single runs in the second and third innings to close within a 5-2 score, highlighted by a sacrifice fly by Whitney Williams.
The Minutewomen looked to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth, as they had runners on second and third with one out. Mineau, who came in to relieve Fordham starter Chelsea Plimpton earlier in the inning, then struck out Sarah Reeves looking for the second out of the inning. After an intentional walk to Salato, Mineau got Michelle Libby to strike out swinging to end the threat.
UMass closed within 5-4 in the sixth, as Carly Normadin hit a two-run home run, her ninth of the season, scoring Davina Hernandez, who drew a two-out walk.
The Rams though held strong in the seventh, as Fordham got a pair of ground outs and a strike out, to end the game, and snap UMass' 54-game home winning streak during the regular season.
Plimpton (12-3) got the win, throwing 4 1/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits, while Mineau recorded her league-leading fifth save of the season, pitching the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. At the plate, Wiggins was 2-for-3 with a home run, while Pellechio was also 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Earlier in game one, UMass got a pair of two-out singles by Whitney Mollica and Sarah Reeves, while Samantha Salato hit a home run, as the Minutewomen opened the day with a 4-0 win.
UMass took advantage of two Fordham errors in the second inning to go up 1-0, and then strung together four straight singles in the bottom of the third to score two more runs for a 3-0 lead.
Salato then capped the scoring with a solo home run to left center, her 15th of the season.
Brandice Balschmiter held the Rams' offense in check, allowing just two base runners, while registering 13 strikeouts.
Mineau (17-11) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The Fordham softball team will next be in action on Wednesday, May 6th, as they host the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship, where they will be seeded fourth out of six teams. The Rams will play fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's at 1:00 PM.
