Box Score March 6, 2011
Final Stats
Orlando, Fla. -
The 2011 Citrus Classic has pitted Fordham against some of the nation's top softball programs. Sunday proved to be no different as the Rams took on Notre Dame from the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the end, the Fighting Irish beat the Rams 6-0
The Rams got off to an auspicious start as Jocelyn Dearborn laced a double to centerfield. Lindsey Kay Bright followed with an infield single and Fordham had runners on first and second with no outs. In what has become far too common this season for the Rams, they left runners in scoring position. Gabby Luety, who followed Bright, struck out for the first out. Nicole Callahan then flied out to centerfield. The final out came as Jamie LaBovick grounded out to third.
Notre Dame had a more fortuitous outcome in its half of the first. Katie Fleury led off with an infield single to third. Heather Johnson then reached on a fielder's choice where no out was recorded. Dani Miller singled to center and scored Fleury. On the hit, Johnson advanced to third on an errant throw from Bright. Amy Buntin drove in Johnson with a sacrifice fly. The third run came in when Alexia Clay singled up the middle to plate Miller. After one inning, the Irish led 3-0.
Notre Dame extended their lead to 4-0 in the third inning. Miller reached Fordham starter Chelsea Plimpton for a solo home run. But the Rams rallied once again in the fourth.
Gabby Luety led off with a single up the middle. Jen Mineau came in to run for Luety. Callahan singled to left and the Rams had runners on first and second. LaBovick hit into a double play and Beckah Wiggins grounded out and once again the Rams left runners on base.
The Fighting Irish extended their lead to 6-0 in the fourth. Clay led off with a single to right center. Two batters later, Jackie Bowe singled back to the box and the Irish had two runners on base. Kristina Wright doubled to left center and scored Blay and Bowe.
The Rams didn't score the rest of the game and Notre Dame won 6-0. Callahan had two hits to lead Fordham. Chelsea Plimpton took the loss. She pitched 3.1 innings and was touched for six runs on seven hits. The Rams' record is now 8-10
Game 2:
On Fordham's final game of the 2011 Citrus Classic, the Rams pulled out a 1-0 victory over North Carolina. With the win, Fordham improves to 9-10 on the season.
The Rams got the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Lindsey Kay Bright singled to centerfield. She advanced into scoring position on a Nicole Callahan ground out and scored on an RBI single to center from Gabby Luety.
The Tar Heels responded in the second inning by promptly loading the bases. Haleigh Dickey connected on a lead-off single up the middle. Chelsey Butler pinch ran for her and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brittany Robinson. Jordan Scarboro worked a walk and Cara Vitale singled back to starting pitcher, Jen Mineau. UNC had the bases loaded and just one out.
Mineau dug in and got the next two batters as Logan Foulks grounded to second where Beckah Wiggins got the force at home. The next batter, Amy Nece struck out, and the rally was over. Fordham maintained its 1-0 advantage.
UNC would strand three runners again in the sixth inning. With one out, Ally Blake walked. Dickey followed with another walk, and then, after a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with two outs, Scarboro walked to load the bases. Mineau got of the second bases-loaded jam of the game when she got Brittany McKinney to watch strike three go by.
Fordham rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Callahan singled to left field with one out. Jessica Crowley ran for Callahan and got to third went Luety reached on a two-base error by Robinson. Wiggins hit into a fielder's choice and the Tar Heels got Callahan at home. Samatha Pellechio followed Wiggins with a walk and the Rams had the bases loaded with two outs. LaBovick hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning when the third baseman stepped on the base to end the inning. UNC failed to score in the seventh and the Rams won 1-0.
Mineau threw a complete-game shutout to earn the win and improve to 5-3 on the season. She scattered just three hits, walked five and struck out eight batters. Bright had two hits and a run scored to lead the offense.
Fordham returns to action on Saturday, March 12, when the team travels to Charlottesville, Virginia to compete in the Cavalier Classic. On Saturday, the Rams open the tournament with Princeton at 2:00 P.M. and then face Syracuse at 4:30 P.M.
