March 22, 2010

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Fordham freshman Chelsea Palumbo earned her first conference honor as she was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week by league officials on Monday, after a solid offensive performance after a 6-1 week for the Rams.

Palumbo, a Tabernacle, N.J., native (Seneca High School), recorded six hits, six runs and six RBI in seven games as starting shortstop this past week. She recorded all three RBI against Pittsburgh in the 4-3, 10-inning loss on March 21. She hit a two-run homer and a double, her first career homerun.

In seven games last week, Palumbo had the second highest batting average on the team (.353) and a .588 slugging percentage. As shortstop, she assisted seven outs and had four of her own.

The three RBI against Pitt was a season-best for the rookie and her six RBI run in seven games was her best offensive performance this year.

The Fordham softball team had an excellent week, going 6-1, with the Rams tallying three shutouts and two short games. Fordham played Seton Hall in a mid-week, non-conference doubleheader to open the Rams' home field. The Rams defeated Seton Hall of the BIG EAST in a double shutout, 8-0 in five innings in the first game and 3-0 in the second.

The Rams traveled to Harrisonburg, Va., for the weekend for the James Madison Dukes/Days Inn Invitational, where they played James Madison, Pittsburgh and Winthrop. Fordham went 4-1 for the weekend, with their only loss on Saturday against Pitt in a one-run, extra-inning ballgame. The Rams opened the weekend 5-1 over Pitt and 7-0 over JMU on Friday. On Saturday, the Rams defeated Winthrop 2-1 and sophomore pitcher Jen Mineau broke Fordham's single season strikeout record as she struck out the side three times and recorded 18 shutouts against the Eagles. The 18 strikeouts also tied Fordham's strikeouts in a game record, which she had set earlier this season. Fordham lost to Pitt, 4-3 in 10 innings in the afternoon set and came back with a 16-2 drowning of the JMU Dukes on Sunday to close the tournament.