Box Score March 17, 2010
Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2 | Photo Gallery 
| 03/17/10 - Seton Hall Highlights 
BRONX, N.Y. - The big bats were swinging for the Fordham softball team's 2010 home opener against Seton Hall, as the Rams swept the Pirates in back-to-back shutout victories on Wednesday at the Bahoshy Softball Complex on Murphy Field.
Fordham defeated Seton Hall, 8-0, in a one-hit, five-inning victory in game one of the double header. The Rams' sophomore pitcher Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Hoosic Valley Central) struck out 11 batters, allowing just three on the bases, while at the plate the Rams tallied nine hits to the Pirates' one, including another two-run homer by senior Erin Fisher (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville).
In the second game, the Rams won 3-0, scoring all their runs in the second inning. Sophomore Nicole Callahan (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township), recorded her second RBI-single of the afternoon and junior hurler Chelsea Plimpton (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville South (St. John's)) set a season-best record with eight strike outs in seven innings.
With the wins, Fordham improves to 15-5 on the season. Seton Hall falls to 3-11.
Game 1: Fordham 8, Seton Hall 0 (5 innings)
Fordham took an early 2-0 lead as Fisher hit the 3-1 pitch over the fence in right center for a two-run homer, her second in four days. Rookie Jamie LaBovick (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) had hit a single up the middle on the previous at bat to score on Fisher's homer.
Mineau (12-2) struck out the side two-straight innings to retire six Seton Hall batters through the third inning.
With one out in the third inning, junior Jocelyn Dearborn (New Milford, Pa./Blue Ridge) sent a single to left center. Sophomore Lindsey Kay Bright (Federal Way, Wash./Decatur) walked to put Dearborn in scoring position on the next at bat. LaBovick hit a single to left field, scored Dearborn, and advanced to second on the throw into the plate and Bright ran to third. After Fisher's hard drive over the fence in the first inning, Seton Hall decided to intentionally walk the senior, loading the bases for Fordham. Callahan drove the ball out of fair territory and deep into left field, but it was caught by Pirate leftfielder Nalin Bennett. The hit was far enough to score Bright from third and advance the runners as Callahan was credited with a sac fly. Junior Beckah Wiggins (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) hit the ball down to the Seton Hall shortstop, but reached the base and made it to second on an overthrow to first. Fisher and LaBovick scored on the throw to score four runs for the Rams in the bottom of the third and extend their lead to six runs. Junior catcher Meghan Shager (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) ended the inning with a fly ball to right field but the damage had been done.
In the top of the fourth inning, Seton Hall got their first runner on the bases with a walk from Bennett, their leadoff batter. Rightfielder Michelle Reed reached first base on a fielder's choice as Bennett was thrown out at second base. Reed stole second to put the Pirates' first runner in scoring position with one out left in the inning. Mineau once again got the Rams out of the inning, striking out the last batter on a 2-2 count.
Fordham extended their lead by one more run in the fourth inning as Dearborn tripled to deep to the gap in right center field to score sophomore Jessica Richards (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo) to give Fordham the 7-0 lead.
The Pirates got their first hit of the game with two outs, both strikeouts by Mineau, in the fifth inning with a double down the left field line by junior Jamie Gates. Mineau ended the inning with her 11th strikeout of the game. Mineau has recorded eight double digit strikeout appearances so far this season.
In the bottom of the fifth, Shager singled to right field to score Fisher from third base to win the first game of the doubleheader for the Rams via the Eight Run Rule.
Game 2: Fordham 3, Seton Hall 0
In the second game, the Rams got their bats swinging in the bottom of the second inning. Fisher led off with a walk after an illegal pitch; then stole her sixth base of the season to put Fordham in scoring position. Callahan came up to the plate and singled to left field on the third pitch, scoring Fisher and earning her second RBI of the day. With two outs on the Rams, rookie shortstop Chelsea Palumbo (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) singled down the left field line and advanced Callahan to second. Richards doubled to left center sending in both runners and giving Fordham a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Fordham threatened again with Wiggins on third base after a double to centerfield and an extra base on a passed ball. Dearborn popped up to second to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Plimpton struck out the side keeping the Fordham shut out going. In a perfect ending for the junior pitcher, she recorded the last out of the game, retiring pinch hitter Cashel Gaffey with her eighth strikeout of the outing. Plimpton allowed just three hits in seven innings en route to her second win of the season (2-2) and third shutout of her career at Fordham. The 3-0 win was Plimpton's first complete game this season.
Fisher was 2-for-3 for the day with three runs, two hits, two RBI and a homerun. LaBovick was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Richards was also 2-for-4 with two RBI, two hits and a run.
With the wins, Fordham improves to 13-2 in home-openers since the 2002 season.
Up next, the Rams will travel to Harrisonburg, Va., a tournament hosted by James Madison University. Fordham will open the tournament against Pittsburgh at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 19. During the three-day tournament, the Rams will play Pittsburgh twice, James Madison twice and Winthrop.
