Box Score May 23, 2010
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Postgame Interviews
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Scoreless through four and a half innings, it was a rare fielding error by Fordham that would be the eventual determining factor in the Rams' 2-0 Regional Final loss to the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday afternoon at the Robert E. Taylor Stadium.
"We needed to score runs," said head coach Bridget Orchard. "We just didn't capitalize on our opportunities. Oklahoma's pitcher was shutting us down, keeping us off-balance with her change up and got big strikeouts when she needed to. "It was an awesome opportunity for our players just the experience to be here it was a first time for everybody including myself and we were just happy that the selection committee gave us the at-large berth. They credited our hard work and they recognized that and gave us the chance to be here."
The highlight of the afternoon was sophomore pitcher Jen Mineau (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Hoosic Valley Central) who recorded her 500th strikeout of the season. With 503 K's Mineau (34-9) is only the second pitcher in the Atlantic 10 to reach the 500 mark this season. In just two seasons with Fordham, Mineau has tallied a career record of 676 strikeouts, four K's away from Fordham's all-time career strikeout record, 680, set by Sara Kinney during her four-year career from 2003-07.
For the Sooners, Keilani Ricketts pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and advanced to 31-8 on the season as Oklahoma will move on to play the winner of the Seattle Region in the Super Regionals next weekend. Oklahoma will move on with a 46-10 record.
Fordham ended their successful season one-win shy of 50, with a 49-12 record, the best winning percentage in the history of the Fordham softball program (.803). The Rams' Regional Final appearance was the farthest an Atlantic 10 team got this season with two A-10 teams in the NCAAs.
The Rams completed their season in their first-ever national postseason competition. For 2010, the Fordham softball team bid farewell to their senior centerfielder Erin Fisher (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville). Fisher ended her season batting .339, with 46 runs, 61 hits, 11 doubles, 16 home runs, 53 RBI and 30 walks.
"It's been an awesome season -- a season I'll never forget," remarked Fisher. "I had a great team, they were there for me whenever I needed them and I'm glad that we got to where we did and I'm so proud of us. As I said, it's a season I'll never forget. It's been a great four years. I can't wait to come back next year and watch them win the region."
In the first inning, Fordham had their best chance to score as Ricketts loaded the bases on three-straight. The runners were on as the next three batters couldn't advance them to the plate.
Fordham and Oklahoma traded hits in the second and third as both teams had one hit but left the runner on base with the score tied at zero.
Oklahoma threatened in the bottom of the fourth with runners at second and third and one out. Hailey Nix led off the inning with a double to center field. Ricketts fouled off to Meghan Shager (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) who went back for the ball. Mineau struck out Haley Anderson swinging, but a passed ball on the third strike allowed Anderson to make it safely to first and Nix to advance to third. With runners at the corners and one out, Anderson stole second for two Sooners in scoring position. Mineau turned on the heat, as usual in a high pressure situation, and took down the next batter swinging. With an 0-2 count and two outs, OU's Dani Dobbs' hit a high popper in front of the plate. Jocelyn Dearborn (New Milford, Pa./Blue Ridge) made a play for it, coming all the way in to end the inning with no runs scored.
In the top of the fifth, Ricketts walked runners on base once again, this time with two outs on the board. Junior Samantha Pellechio (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon) and rookie Jamie LaBovick (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) walked into scoring position ready for a rally. Fisher came up to the plate and took Ricketts to eight pitches, fouling off three big hits, one going far just outside the left field line. Fishers' last hit went back at Ricketts who tipped it down for the Sooners' shortstop that threw her out at first.
It was the bottom of the frame that was costly for the Rams as Oklahoma scored two runs, both unearned. After the lead off batter walked and was moved over by a sac bunt by Amber Flores, the Rams intentionally pitched around Jessica Shults for two runners on base. Mineau once again turned on the heat and Lindsey Vandever went down swinging on a three-pitch strikeout for two outs. Haley Nix came up to the plate and hit the first pitch to the edge of the grass in left field, but a fielding error would send a run in for the Sooners. A single on the next at bat would send in another before Fordham could get out of the inning.
Fordham couldn't rally back from the two-run deficit in the following two innings and couldn't get another hit off Ricketts. The Rams' defense held the Sooners to the two, leaving bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. Dearborn ended the inning for Fordham as Vandever grounded out to third.
It was three up, three down in the seventh as Oklahoma took the 2-0 victory and advanced to the Super Regionals.
