Box Score Feb. 21, 2010
Box Score
Newport News, Va. - Sophomore pitcher Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y.) once again gave the Fordham softball team the defensive edge they needed as she pitched four perfect innings, allowing no hits, no walks and struck out seven of the 13 batters she faced, against Quinnipiac in the Rams' final game of the Lancer Leadoff Invitational at Captain's Park on Sunday. With the help of Mineau's starting heat and Fordham's offense once again scoring four runs early, the Rams' were able to defeat the Bobcats 6-1 in non-conference play.
In four innings, Mineau (2-0) had just one batter out on the bases, off an error. Every one of the seven strike outs had Quinnipiac batters chasing the ball into the catcher's glove. She was relieved in the fifth inning by junior transfer Chelsea Plimpton (East Amherst, N.Y.) who faced 12 Quinnipiac batters. Plimpton only allowed two hits in the final three innings, for one run, both hits in the sixth inning. Plimpton left the other runner stranded on second base while she struck out the following two batters in the sixth inning.
With the win, the Rams are 3-1 overall. Quinnipiac is 0-1.
Just like in the morning against Morehead State, the Rams got on the board in the first three innings of play, taking a 4-0 lead. Fordham sophomore Lindsey Kay Bright (Federal Way, Wash.), batting second in the line up and playing centerfield, singled to left field to get the Rams' rolling. Bright stole second on junior Samantha Pellechio's (Lebanon, N.J.) at bat, putting her in scoring position. Pellechio hit a sound double to center field, earning an RBI as Bright rounded the bases to home plate. In just three batters, Fordham was already up 1-0. Pellechio was left at second as the Rams' following two batters struck out and grounded out to end the top of the first.
Mineau came out for her first look at the Bobcats and struck out the first two batters and had the third hit into a second-base to first put out. Three up three down for the Rams.
In the bottom of the second, Mineau had her only runner on base as Quinnipiac's No. 6 batter, Emily Bellush reached first on a fielding error in left field. Bellush was able to make two bases out of the error. Bellush's effort was short lived as Mineau struck out Bobcast batter No. 7 Heather Maffeo to end the inning.
Fordham was unable to score again until the third inning as junior catcher Meghan Shager led off the inning and singled to right field in her first at bat. With two outs and Shager on third base after stealing second and advancing to third on Bright's ground out to shortstop, Pellechio walked to put another duck on the pond. Senior Erin Fisher (Woodinville, Wash.) reached first base a drop pop up to shortstop, while Shager scored and Pellechio advanced to third. Fordham led 2-0. Fisher stole second, putting Fordham runners on second and third with junior Beckah Wiggins (Conklin, N.Y.) at the plate and one out left. Wiggins tripled to right field, scoring both Pellechio and Fisher for two RBI. Sophomore Jessica Richards (Trabuco, Calif.) flied out to center field to end the inning as Fordham led 4-0.
The Rams were unable to score again until the final inning, allowing Quinnipiac to earn one run in the sixth. Bobcat sophomore Alex Murray, the No. 9 batter, doubled to right center and was knocked in by Quinnipiac's No. 2 hitter, senior Angela Casella, who also doubled to right center, two batters later. Plimpton closed out the inning for the Rams, striking out the final two batters and leaving Casella stranded at second base.
In the seventh inning, Fordham got their bats going again and added two more to their score as the top of the line up came to bat. Junior Jocelyn Dearborn (New Milford, Pa.) led off the inning with a single up the middle. She was stopped at the two batters later as Quinnipiac traded her for Pellechio in a fielder's choice to second base. Pellechio advanced to second as rookie Jamie LaBovick (Peoria, Ariz.) entered the game for her first at bat with a single down the middle. Wiggins earned two more RBI with a long ball up the middle, sending in both Pellechio and LaBovick. Richards lined out to second base to leave Wiggins at first, but the damage was done and Fordham led by five runs, 6-1, going into Quinnipiac's final at bat.
Plimpton and the Ram defense came out strong in the bottom of the seventh to seal the deal on Fordham's win. It was three up, three down again for the Bobcats as all three batters hit the ball into the air for three straight fly outs.
Fordham out hit Quinnipiac 10-2. Wiggins led the way for the Rams' offense with four RBI and two hits, including one for extra bases. Playing first base for six innings, Wiggins also had four put outs. Pellechio also earned an RBI and scored a run.
Up next for the Rams, is a trip to the West Coast for the Palm Springs Classic in Cathedral City, Calf. The Rams will start their tour on Feb. 25 with games against Texas A&M and San Diego State. They will also face California, Oregon State and UNLV.
