Jan. 26, 2012

Newport News, Va. - After capturing both the Atlantic 10 Regular Season and Championship titles in 2011, the Fordham University softball team was picked to repeat as titlists in 2012, according to a vote of the conference's head coaches released on Thursday.

Following Fordham in the Atlantic 10 preseason predictions is the University of Massachusetts, who has won 15 of the last 17 conference titles. Saint Joseph's, the 2011 A-10 runner-up, was picked third followed by Charlotte, Temple, Dayton, Saint Louis, George Washington, St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island and La Salle.

Fordham posted a 42-19 overall record in 2011, with a 16-4 conference ledger. The Rams notched wins over three top 25 teams and captured a game at the NCAA Regional Championship at Penn State. The team returns seven starters including All-American pitcher Jen Mineau, All Mid-Atlantic designated player Nicole Callahan, and A-10 All Rookie team member Gabby Luety. Mineau set the school marks for wins and strikeouts in her junior season while Callahan led the team in batting and Luety finished second in home runs.

The 2012 schedule looks as challenging as it was in 2011 as the Rams, who are receiving votes in both the USA Softball and NFCA/USA Today Top 25 preseason polls, are slated to face nine different schools that are ranked among the nation's best. Fordham welcomes Massachusetts (RV-RV) and Alabama (#2/#3) to Bahoshy Field for a total of three games in May when the Minutewomen visit on May 4th and 5th and the Crimson Tide come calling on May 7th. Locally the team will travel to Long Island to face Hofstra (-/RV) on April 17. Additionally, the Rams will face East Carolina (-/RV), Louisville (RV/#25), California (#3/#4), Arizona (#8/#8), UCLA (#13/#19) and North Carolina (RV/RV) in various tournaments early in the season.

The Rams open the 2012 campaign on February 17 when they take on Virginia in Greenville, North Carolina at 5 PM.