Jan. 21, 2011

Bronx, N.Y. - Coming off a record-setting 2010 season, the Fordham softball team was voted to finish second in the conference in a poll released on Friday. The poll was taken from the league's head coaches. The Minutewomen were tabbed to take the top spot once again.

In 2010, the Rams were the runner-up to UMass, as they finished 49-12 overall and 16-2 in conference play. It was a season of superlatives for Fordham as the team set a record for wins in a season, and had their first first-team All-American in junior pitcher Jen Mineau.

The Rams return seven starters and four pitchers, including Mineau. In the circle, she threw three no-hitters, two perfect games and was second in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings (12.47). She is joined around the diamond by RBI leader Beckah Wiggins, who drove in 60 while hitting .328 as a junior in 2010, and Jocelyn Dearborn returns coming off of a 12 HRs, 40 RBI season.

Fordham opens the softball season when they face Georgia Tech as part of the Dot Richardson College Classic in Clermont, Florida on February 12. They open up at home on March 30 when the Lehigh Mountainhawks come in for a doubleheader.

2011 Predicted Order of Finish: (2010 overall/A-10 record in parentheses)

1. Massachusetts (42-10-1/17-0-1)

2. Fordham (49-12/16-2)

3. Charlotte (40-18/15-5)

4. Saint Joseph's (29-18/11-7)

5. Saint Louis (30-26-1/12-7-1)

6. Temple (19-30/8-12)

7. Rhode Island (19-35/8-12)

8. Dayton(18-36-1/6-14)

9. St. Bonaventure (13-27/7-11)

10. La Salle (13-30-1/2-18)

11. George Washington (6-39/3-17)