Box Score April 20, 2010
Box Score
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -
Scoreless through six innings, it was a game-winning home run by junior Samantha Pellechio (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon), previously dubbed the "Pride Killer" by the Hofstra student radio, that was the difference maker in a defensive battle between these two local top 35 rivals. With a two-out bomb, Pellechio helped Fordham softball defeat the Hofstra Pride, 1-0, in non-conference action at the Hofstra Softball Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, extending Fordham's win-streak to 11-games.
It was a pitchers' duel as the Rams' sophomore pitcher Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Hoosic Valley Central) faced Hofstra's No. 1 rookie hurler, Olivia Galati. Mineau got the better of Galati, striking her out twice out of Galati's three at bats in a head-to-head battle and striking out 13 pride batters. Mineau tallied her 11th complete game shut out of the season, which advances her record to 24-5 overall. With 24 wins, she ties the single season win record for a Fordham pitcher.
Galati (19-4) struck out eight batters and only allowed three Fordham hits, the first not until the fifth inning.
With the win, Fordham advances its record 37-8 overall and tallies its second ever win over Hofstra. Hofstra's record is 31-8 overall.
In the first four innings, the Rams struggled with Galati, with no one able to get on base. In contrast, the Pride starting hitting right away as Kris Root led off with a single, just missed by Pellechio diving toward third. Root was caught up in a double play with Hofstra's batting leader Michele DePasquale as junior Beckah Wiggins (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) picked up the ground ball throwing, to Pellechio at second to rookie Jamie LaBovick (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) at first for the 4-6-3 double play. After a single to left by Tessa Ziemba, Mineau struck out Sara Michalowski for the third out.
Michalowski would eventually strike out in all three of her at bats.
Pellechio connected for the Rams' first hit of the day in the top of the fifth, with a shallow shot to right field. She was left on as the next two Fordham batters popped out.
Rookie Jamie Pollak (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) came in to pinch hit for sophomore Jessica Richards (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo) in the top of the sixth. It proved a good move as Pollak hit down the right field line. Richards re-entered at first base to run. Richards was left on the field as the next three Fordham batters were shut down.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hofstra loaded the bases on Fordham as all three batters walked onto the bases, one intentional. With one out on the board, Mineau struck out Michalowski for the third-consecutive time and Galati came up to the plate. Galati took Mineau to a 2-2 count before slamming the ball far toward left field. The ball curved foul as Mineau got another shot at her pitching-foe. Mineau won the battle on Galati as she went down swinging into nothing, getting the Rams out of the inning safely with no runs scored.
It was Pellechio in the top of the seventh, who got the first run for either team on the board with a home run on the 3-1 pitch over the left center wall. Fordham took a 1-0 lead going into the final at bat for the Pride. In her previous career games against the Pride, Pellechio has hit two homers for three RBI.
In the final at bat for the Pride, Mineau struck out Christie Novatin looking, Jess Hirschbuhl swinging for the first two outs of the final inning. After an 0-2 count, Trisha Dreslinski hit one far and foul off to right field but Mineau finished her off as the shortstop swung missed on the final pitch.
Up next, the Rams will head back to Philadelphia to play Temple in a two-day series on April 23-24. On Sunday, Fordham will play a doubleheader at Saint Joseph's starting at noon. Friday and Saturday's games at Temple will start at 3 p.m. and noon, respectively.
