March 31, 2010
St. John's at Fordham (March 31)
Fordham-St. John's Game Notes 
| Watch | Listen WFUV.org | GameTracker 
Rhode Island at Fordham (April 1)
Fordham-Rhode Island Game Notes
Game 1: Listen WFUV.org | GameTracker
Game 2: Listen WFUV.org | GameTracker
BRONX, N.Y. - The Fordham softball team starts the first of 11-straight home games, as the Rams host the St. John's Red Storm in a single game on Wednesday, March 31 (4 p.m.) then the Rhode Island Rams in a Thursday, Atlantic 10 doubleheader on April 1, with the first pitch starting at noon.
Fordham (23-6, 2-0 Atlantic 10) is riding a five-game win streak, where they have outscored opponents 70-7. The Rams have run-ruled their opponents in four of their past five games.
The Rams are coming off a double sweep of the Dayton Flyers in their first conference games of the season. Fordham shut out Dayton 11-0 in the first game and won 10-3 in the second.
Fordham fans can follow the action live via FordhamSports.com Live GameTracker stats, audio and Fordham All-Access video will be provided. *There will be audio only on WFUV.org for the Rhode Island set.
SCOUTING THE RED STORM
St. John's is 11-14 overall and 1-7 on the road. The Red Storm finished up tournament play on the road at Coastal Carolina. The Red Storm is 1-4 in their last five games at the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C. The Red Storm defeated the Siena Saints, 5-2, but lost to Kent State twice and got run-ruled by host-school, Coastal Carolina, 15-2.
In the circle, St. John's boasts the talents of junior Linzee Sumrall. Sumrall (4-7) was credited with the complete-game win over Siena, where she struck out 10 batters and held the Saints to two runs. Sumrall leads the team with 5.61 ERA and 81 strikeouts. Sumrall is backed by Kat Lawrence (6-4) with a 5.63 ERA and Jordan Tingley (1-3).
At the plate, the Red Storm is led by Kacee Cox and Kristi Cady. Cox boasts a .438 batting average in 25 games this season. She leads the team in hits (32), homeruns (4) and RBI (21). Cady is second on the team with a .377 batting average. She's recorded 26 hits, three doubles, three homeruns and 18 RBI.
RAMS VS. RED STORM - THE SERIES
The series between the Rams and the Red Storm started in Fordham's first official varsity season, 1985. The head coach of the Fordham Rams was Chris Monasch, the current Director of Athletics at St. John's. St. John's defeated Fordham, 5-2 in that inaugural meeting. St. John's held the advantage over Fordham until 1987, when the Rams tallied their first victory, 2-1. St. John's then defeated Fordham seven-straight times from 1988-1992 before the local-rivalry went on hiatus.
The rivalry resumed in 2003, the second season of Fordham head coach Bridget Orchard's tenure. Since 2003, Fordham holds a one-game advantage over St. John's, splitting the games played in 2003, and gaining a two-run victory last season.
WHEN LAST THEY MET
Fordham and St. John's last played each other on April 1, 2009 in Queens, N.Y. Fordham pitcher, Chelsea Plimpton, who transferred from St. John's in 2008, threw a complete-game four-hitter as the Rams put together a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over the Red Storm, capped by a two-run homer from Melissa Andrews in the top of the seventh.
Fordham started off on the right foot as Mary Beth Puccio connected for a solo homerun to centerfield to take a 1-0 lead.
St. John's grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth as Kacee Cox hit a two-run homer to center to score Chelsea Durning, who reached on a double.
The Rams rallied in the seventh with three runs.
FORDHAM VS. THE BIG EAST
So far this season, Fordham is 3-1 against BIG EAST opponents. Fordham swept the doubleheader against Seton Hall in the Rams' 2010 home-opener on March 17, defeating the Pirates 8-0 (5 innings) and 3-0.
At the James Madison Tournament (March 19-21), the Rams split the games against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Fordham defeated Pitt, 5-1 in the initial meeting on March 19, but lost 4-3 in a 10-inning heartbreak on March 20.
SCOUTING THE RHODE ISLAND RAMS
Rhode Island is 7-16 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic 10. The Rams are coming off two league wins at George Washington, where Rhode Island defeated the Colonials 3-1 in the first game and 7-3 in the second.
Before Rhode Island's victories in our nation's Capital, the Rams were riding a eight-game losing streak starting at the Delaware State Tournament on March 19. The Rams lost to Delaware State three times, Binghamton and Saint Francis (PA) in the tournament, before losing to UMBC, Mount Saint Mary and Georgetown in a Maryland-D.C. road trip.
The Rams have only played one common opponent as Fordham as they lost, 1-0 to Mercer on March 6 at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta. Rhode Island is led by Nicole Massoni who has a .364 batting average in 20 games played and started for the Rams. Massoni is also the RBI-leader with 13. Hits-wise, Rhode Island is led by Leah DiBussolo and Brittany Julich with 22 each.
In the circle, Rhode Island has Alison Hartzell with a 2.51 ERA and a record of 3-2 with 25 strikeouts. Within the four-player pitching staff thus far, Jayshree Narendra leads the team with 35 strikeouts.
Rhode Island's mid-week doubleheader, originally scheduled for March 31 was cancelled.
RAMS VS. RAMS- THE SERIES
The Rams and Rams have played each other in doubleheaders since Fordham starting playing in the Atlantic 10 in the 1995-96 season. Fordham holds a four-game advantage over Rhode Island in the series history, winning the bulk of its games since 2003, the second season of the Bridget Orchard Era.
WHEN LAST THEY MET
The Rams and Rams last met on May 2, 2009 in Kingston, R.I. Fordham swept URI as head coach Bridget Orhard tallied her 400th career coaching win.
Jocelyn Dearborn, Erin Fisher and Samantha Pellechio each tallied a homerun in the series sweep as Fordham combined for 11 hits. Dearborn led off with a solo homerun to left center in the top of the second inning for an early 1-0 start. Fordham extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third with a pair of runs from Lindsey Kay Bright and Melissa Andrews off an RBI-single from Pellechio. Fordham eventually won, 11-2.
The Rams and Rams started the series on the previous day, May 1, with a 2-1 victory over Rhode Island. Lindsey Kay Bright tallied four hits, while Jen Mineau struck out nine. Fordham scored both runs in the first inning.
ON DECK
The Rams will face Atlantic 10-rival, Massachusetts in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 3. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the Bahoshy Complex on Murphy Field.
