Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 19, 2010
HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Fordham softball team extended their win-streak to five games on Friday, the first day of the James Madison/Days Inn Invitational as the Rams tallied a 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh and a 7-0 win over host school, James Madison University, at Veteran Memorial Park. Seven of the Rams' combined 12 runs were scored on two outs.
Junior Chelsea Plimpton (East Amherst, N.Y./ Williamsville South (St. John's)) earned her third win of the season (3-2) allowing just one hit versus Pittsburgh. Sophomore Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Hoosic Valley Central) extended her record to 13-2, her sixth shutout of the season, third combined, with 10 strikeouts and just two hits against James Madison.
In the second game, junior Beckah Wiggins (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) tallied two RBI singles, both with two outs. Through four innings, all six of the Rams' runs were scored in two-out rallies. Wiggins had a four-RBI day for the Rams, going 5-for-7 with one double and a homerun.
Sophomore Lindsey Kay Bright (Federal Way, Wash./Decatur) was 3-for-6 in two games, with two runs, two RBI and a double. Junior catcher Meghan Shager (Conklin, N.Y./ Susquehanna Valley) was 3-for-5 with a dboule and a RBI.
Fordham recorded 10 RBI in 12 runs, 16 hits with six for extra bases.
With the wins, Fordham is 17-5 on the season. The Rams are 12-2 in their last 14 games. The 7-0 victory over JMU is Fordham's fourth shutout in five games.
Game 1 - Fordham 5, Pitt 1
The Panthers got on the board first with a two-out solo homerun in the first inning by Pitt's catcher Holly Stevens. Stevens' homer was the only hit the Panthers would get off Plimpton, who got the win, striking out two batters in four innings of work.
In four innings in the circle, only two batters made it past the batters' box safely, off a walk and error. Neither runner advanced past first base as the Fordham defense tallied outs around them.
Mineau came in for the save in the fifth inning and struck out the first two batters she saw. Mineau shutdown six batters, all swinging, to protect the four-run lead and tally her first save of the season, sixth of her career which ties her for second all-time in Fordham history.
Bright and rookie Jamie LaBovick (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) got on base for Fordham in the first inning, but it wasn't until the second that the scoring started for the Rams. With two outs on the board, sophomore Jessica Richards (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo) reached first on a fielder's choice to the shortstop. The Rams' continued to rally as rookie shortstop Chelsea Palumbo (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) hit a single to the left side to advance Richards. Shager hit a single up the middle to score Richards to tie the game at one run.
Leadoff batter, junior Jocelyn Dearborn (New Milford, Pa./Blue Ridge) reached first base on a fielding error by the shortstop as Palumbo crossed the plate and Shager advanced to third. Bright was out on the subsequent play, but Fordham had taken the lead 2-1.
After two three up, three down innings, Fordham scored two more runs in the fourth inning as Dearborn sent in Shager with a double down the left field line. Shager led off the inning with a double to right center into the gap. Bright bunted and outran the throw for the single, which advanced Dearborn to third base. The No. 3 batter, LaBovick, hit the to the pitcher who through Dearborn out at home plate. The play was no over however, as Bright advanced to third on the initial hit and LaBovick attempted to grab an extra base on the play at the plate. Pitt's catcher attempted to throw out LaBovick on the run, while Bright saw the open opportunity to score. LaBovick returned safely to first base but Bright was able to be safe at home for two runs in the play, Fordham led 4-1. Pitt's pitcher, Kayla Zinger, struck out Fordham's remaining batters to end the inning.
In the sixth inning, Wiggins led off with a homer to right field on the 3-1 count and the final run of the ballgame.
The 5-1 victory was Fordham's third-straight win over BIG EAST competition this week. It was also Fordham's first victory over Pittsburgh, tying the series record at 1-1.
Game 2 - Fordham 7, James Madion 0
A two-out two-RBI single from Wiggins in the bottom of the first inning put Fordham on the board early as Dearborn and Bright scored.
Mineau struck out the side for the 18th time this season for three up three down for the Dukes. In the third inning, Mineau recorded all three outs via strike out again, but Brittney Dyson singled to centerfield on the second at bat to break up the outs.
In the bottom of the third, once again with two outs on the Rams, senior Erin Fisher (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville) singled up the middle to score Bright from second. Fisher advanced to second on a wild pitch by JMU pitcher, Cara Stecher. Wiggins rallied again for the Rams with another single up the middle to score Fisher and the Rams took a 4-0 lead. Rookie Jamie Pollak (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) walked on the net at bat and Fordham loaded the bases on a fielding error by the James Madison shortstop with Richards at the plate. Rookie Chelsea Palumbo (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) singled to center field sending in Pollack and Wiggins and advancing Richards to third. Palumbo was thrown out by the Dukes' firstbaseman at second base to end the inning, but not before recording two RBI and giving Fordham a 6-0 lead into the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Wiggins was at it again, scoring Fisher with an RBI double to left center field. The Rams' loaded the bases again with two outs on the board, but Shager flied out to left field to end the inning. Fordham led James Madison, 7-0.
LaBovick came in to pitch for Mineau in the sixth inning and shut down her first batter with a swinging strikeout. She retained the shutout for the Rams and struck out two of the final three batters of the game to secure the seven-run shutout. Palumbo got the final out of the ballgame as Courtney Simons lined out to shortstop.
The victory also ties the series record between James Madison and Fordham at 4-4.
Mineau had 16 strikeouts in two games. LaBovick had three and Plimpton had two.
Up next, Fordham will continue with two more games in the James Madison Days Inn Invitational with a game against Winthrop on Saturday in the 9 a.m. game then a rematch with Pitt at 11:30 a.m.
