Box Score April 1, 2010
Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2
Photo Gallery
BRONX, N.Y. - The Fordham softball team swept University of Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 Battle of the Rams in a Thursday afternoon doubleheader at the Bahoshy Softball Complex at Murphy Field. Fordham defeated Rhode Island 8-1 in the first game and shutout URI 3-0 in the second to advance their season record to 26-6 and their Atlantic 10 record to 4-0.
On offense it was the bats of junior secondbaseman Beckah Wiggins (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna) and rookie Jamie LaBovick (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) who led the Fordham Rams with a combined 7-for-13, five RBI, five runs, two doubles, a triple and a homerun. LaBovick also earned her second win of the season as the starting pitcher in the second game versus Rhode Island to tally her second shut-out win of the season. The rookie is 2-1 as a starting pitcher with her last victory on Feb. 21 vs. Morehead State. LaBovick has been a part of four shutouts for Fordham so far this season.
LaBovick also hit the walk off homer in the second game for the eventual game-winning runs.
In the first game, junior Chelsea Plimpton (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville South/St. John's) advanced her record to 5-2 as she pitched a complete seven innings for the 8-1 win against URI. She struck out nine and only allowed four hits for one run
With the losses, Rhode Island falls to 7-18 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
Fordham 8, Rhode Island 1
In the first inning, Wiggins got the Fordham bats started early with a two-out, two-RBI triple to right center field.
Junior Samantha Pellechio (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon) followed Wiggins' with a single down the leftfield line to score Wiggins from third. Fordham led 3-0 after just one inning of play.
Plimpton struck out three of the next four batters in the second inning, allowing just one hit. The junior took two of the batters for swinging K's and one for a called strikeout.
The Rhode Island Rams scored their first run with two outs in the top of the third inning, as Leah DiBussolo walked in a run for an RBI. Wiggins caught an infield pop up in between first and second for the final out of the inning and left the Rams' runners loaded on the bases.
Wiggins tallied another RBI with a double to the centerfield fence to score senior Erin Fisher (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville) in the bottom of the fourth. Fisher had a hit to right field, but it was flubbed by the Rhode Island right fielder and the senior made it all the way to third base. Pellechio grounded out to the shortstop as Wiggins advanced to third. Sophomore Nicole Callahan (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) singled to score Wiggins to advance the Fordham lead to 5-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Fordham scored three runs, to take an 8-1 lead over Rhode Island. Wiggins led off the inning with a single to left center. Pellechio walked to advance Wiggins to scoring position. Callahan popped up to second for the first out of the inning. Wiggins was caught stealing at third, while Pellechio made it to second on the missed bunt opportunity. Richards singled to left center to score Pellechio for an RBI. Junior catcher Meghan Shager (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) doubled to left center to score Richards for an RBI, Rams up 7-1. Junior Jocelyn Dearborn (New Milford, Pa./Blue Ridge) reached first on a fielding error by the Rhode Island shortstop and Shager advanced to third on the play. Sophomore Lindsey Kay Bright (Federal Way, Wash./Decatur) hit a single to right center, Shager scored to give Bright the RBI, but Dearborn was caught as she tried to make it from first to second for the third out.
Both the Rhode Island sixth and seventh innings were uneventful as the Fordham defense shut down the URI batters, 1-2-3 in both innings. Fordham was unable to score again in the sixth so the score remained 8-1, Fordham victory.
Fordham 3, Rhode Island 0
LaBovick, doing double duty as both the pitcher and No. 3 batter, hit a walk-off homer in her first at bat of the game, scoring Dearborn who singled to center to start at bat for Fordham. In the bottom of the fifth inning, LaBovick hi a two-out double down the left field line. LaBovick also hit yesterday's game-winning homerun over the left field fence in Wednesday's 3-0, 10-inning victory over St. John's.
LaBovick also pitched a three-hitter through five innings, with two strikeouts and three assists.
Sophomore Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y./ Hoosic Valley Central) came in sixth inning and struck out the side with two swinging strikeouts and one called.
Rookie Jamie Pollak (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) hit a single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth inning for an RBI as Wiggins came home. Wiggins led off the inning with a single between the thirdbaseman and shortstop into left field.
Mineau closed out the game in the seventh inning, striking out the first two batters as they swung into nothing but air. Mineau retired her sixth and final batter of the game as she fielded the ball and threw to first.
Next up for the Fordham softball team is a tough match-up against the No. 23 Massachusetts Minutewomen on Saturday, April 3. The Rams and Minutewomen are storied Atlantic 10 rivals and will be facing each other for the first time this season. First pitch of the league doubleheader between these top 30 teams is scheduled for noon at the Bahoshy Softball Complex.
