Box Score Feb. 13, 2011
Final Stats
Clermont, Fla. -
Game 1
The Fordham softball team opened day two of the Dot Richardson College Classic by facing its old nemesis, #17/18 Georgia Tech. In 2010, it was the Rams who upset the Yellow Jackets early in the year en route to an historic season. In 2011, the `Ramblin' Wreck' has taken two games from the Rams, beating Fordham 3-1 on day two of the classic from Clermont, Florida.
The Rams threatened from the onset, loading the bases in the top of the first. Jocelyn Dearborn singled through the left side to leadoff the game. The next batter, Lindsey Kay Bright, walked to put runners on first and second. After the next two batters struck out, freshman Gabby Luety, starting at designated player, reached on an error to load the bases. Fordham was unable to capitalize though, as Beckah Wiggins struck out to end the top of the inning.
Georgia Tech got on the board in the bottom of the first as they touched up Rams' starter Chelsea Plimpton for one run on two hits. Like their counterparts, the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases, but Hope Rush picked up an RBI with a bases-loaded walk.
Georgia Tech pushed two more runs home in the bottom of the third as Alysha Rudnik hit a leadoff single. Kristine Priebe then promptly homered to left center, making the score 3-0. Plimpton settled down after the third as she didn't surrender another hit for the remainder of the game.
The Rams threatened again in the fourth as Luety singled down the left field line. Two batters later, Meghan Shager reached on an infield single to put runners on first and second. From there, Jo Krasnisky struck out swinging, and Jessica Crowley grounded back to the box.
Fordham scored its lone run in the sixth as Wiggins led off with a single up the middle. Shager followed Wiggins and drew a walk. The next batter, Crowley, also walked to load the bases. Dearborn picked up the RBI for the Rams as she drew the third walk of the frame and forced in Wiggins.
Plimpton tossed her second complete game of the season and got charged with the loss. She struck out five and allowed just six hits. Fordham left 11 runners on base in the game.
Game 2
The second game of the day saw the Rams fall to the Lady Mocs of Tennessee-Chattanooga, 1-0. Plimpton was the hard-luck loser in the rubber game as well. She scattered just two hits over five innings of work, but got touched up for the games' only run. She struck out six and failed to walk a batter. Junior Jen Mineau came out of the bullpen to throw the final two innings for the Rams.
Game two was eerily similar to game one for the Rams, as they threatened in the first inning again. Dearborn opened the bottom half of the frame with a double. She advanced to third on a groundout and after a Wiggins walk, Fordham had runners on the corners for Jamie LaBovick. LaBovick grounded out to short and the Rams failed to score.
The Lady Mocs scored their only run in the third as senior outfielder Lauren Flores singled to short. Two batters later, Lyndsey Styles tripled to right scoring Flores.
Fordham loaded the bases again in the sixth. With two outs, Wiggins reached on an errant throw by Jessica Traxler. She advanced to second when LaBovick singled down the left-field line. Luety followed with a walk. With the sacks full, Shager flied to left to end the threat.
The seventh was an uneventful inning that was made historic by Mineau. After giving up two hits in the start of the frame, Mineau struck out Kaiti Dutton looking at strike three. Dutton was career strikeout 680 for Mineau. That put her tied for first place on the all-time strikeout list. The next batter was pinch hitter, Jenni Martin. Martin struck out swinging. That gave Mineau the record with 681.
In the second game, Fordham left eight runners on base. The Rams are now 1-3 to open the season. The team returns to action on Friday, February 18 as they play Ole Miss in the USF Tournament. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:15 A.M.
