Box Score March 14, 2010
ATLANTA - Fordham softball split the final two games of the Springhill Suites Buckhead Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Ga. The Rams lost the 4 p.m. game, 1-0, to Georgia State then rallied for the second game for a 4-0, 10-inning shutout over Mercer. With the wins, Fordham had another successful weekend, winning three of four games with a 2-1 extra inning victory over No. 8/11 Georgia Tech and advancing to a 13-5 overall record.
In Sunday's afternoon game, the Rams lost 1-0 to Georgia State, after defeating the Panthers 5-1 on Saturday. Sophomore Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Hoosic Valley Central) (11-2) pitched a solid seven innings in the circle and only allowed two hits with eight strike outs. Unfortunately, one of the hits was a hard hit ball to right center by Georgia State's Audre Mason for a home run, which was the deciding run of the ballgame. Up until that fourth-inning homer, the Rams had put out three one-two-three innings on the Panthers. In the following three innings, it was nine outs for 10 batters for Georgia State.
Fordham's centerfielder Erin Fisher (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville) hit a double to centerfield to lead off the second inning, but was left on the base as the Rams' next three batters went down. Fisher got it started in the seventh inning with a leadoff walk, but was thrown out in a fielder's choice single from sophomore Nicole Callahan (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township). Rookie Jessica Crowley (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) pinch ran for Callahan and made it to second on junior Beckah Wiggins' (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) walk, but both were left on the bases as Jo Krasinsky (Doylestown, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph's Academy) struck out for the final out of the game.
The night game was just as exciting, as Fordham and Mercer went to 10 innings, the Rams' longest game so far this season. Rookie pitcher Jamie LaBovick (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) started at the circle for the Rams, allowing just three hits in five innings of work and 16 batters faced. Mineau came in in the sixth inning to relieve LaBovick and struck out the first three batters she faced. Mineau tallied 13 strikeouts in 17 batters, and assisted on the second out of the eighth inning en route to her 11th win of the season.
At the plate, the Rams were on base nine times in regulation but were unable to score. Fordham rallied in the 10th as catcher Megan Shager (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) doubled to right center to score Chelsea Palumbo (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) for the eventual game-winner. A bunt-single by sophomore Lindsey Kay Bright (Federal Way, Wash./Decatur) advanced Shager to third and a sac fly from LaBovick, who had switched to first base, scored Shager for the safety run. With two outs, Fisher added two more to the Rams' run tally as she hit a two-run homer to right field to help Fordham to a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the tenth.
With two strikeouts from Mineau and a grounder to Palumbo, the Rams sent the Bears down one, two, three, to seal the deal on the extra-inning, four-run shutout.
The Rams will be back in action on Wednesday, March 17 for their home opener against Seton Hall of the BIG EAST. Fordham and Seton Hall will play a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. on Murphy Field in Bronx, N.Y.
