March 27, 2012

Bronx, N.Y. - The red-hot Fordham softball team opened up A-10 play with four straight victories, part of a larger, nine-game unbeaten streak, and the team looks to push the mark to a season-best eleven games as they travel to Easton, Pennsylvania, for a doubleheader with Lehigh on Wednesday, March 28, at 3:00 PM.

The Rams enter the twinbill having taken a pair of Atlantic 10 games from both La Salle and George Washington over the weekend. Freshman Paige Ortiz earned Rookie of the Week honors for her performance that included a home run in five straight games while Jen Mineau was named A-10 Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season for a strong stretch in the circle that was highlighted by her eighth career no-hitter against St. John's on March 20.

Offensively, the Rams are led by a senior and a couple of freshman. Lindsey Kay Bright enters the day leading the team in hitting (.365), on base percentage (.412) and stolen bases (four). She was named A-10 Player of the Week on March 12 for a stretch that included a perfect 9-for-9 stint from the plate.

Newcomers Ortiz and Michele Daubman are also having a positive effect in the Fordham lineup. Ortiz leads the team in home runs, RBI, total bases and slugging while Daubman is hitting .293 and has contributed with a homer and ten runs scored. In the circle, the Rams return All-American Jen Mineau for her senior season. She is currently 13-8 on the year and was named Pitcher of the Week for the second time. Last week, in addition to her no-hitter, she posted a 20:1 strikeout to walk ratio and struck out four batters in an inning. Taylor Pirone and Daubman have also seen time on the rubber this year.

Lehigh enters the doubleheader with a 13-13 mark. They share a common opponent with Fordham in Pittsburgh, with the Mountain Hawks losing a pair of games to Pitt while the Rams split with the Panthers. Julie Fernandez and Jennifer Colquhoun carry the bulk of the offensive weight. They are two of three Lehigh players to start every game so far this season. Fernandez enters play with a .405 batting average and leads the team in hits (34), doubles (seven) and RBI (18). Colquhoun paces the Mountain Hawks in home runs (five), runs scored (17) and total bases (59). She complements that with a .372 batting average.

In the circle, Emily Bausher is the ace of the staff. She has an ERA of 1.46 and leads the team with six wins and nine complete games. Bausher has 96 strikeouts in 81.1 innings pitched. Rebecca Bliss, Ashley Quigley and Kelsey Lee all have seen significant time on the rubber for Lehigh as well.

These two teams last met for a doubleheader on March 20, 2011 at Bahoshy Field with Fordham sweeping the games, 9-1 and 9-0. Jamie LaBovick had two hits and two runs scored in the first game and two hits, a home run and two RBI in the nightcap match. Jen Mineau threw a two-hitter in the second game as well.

Following these games, the Rams return to the newly renovated Bahoshy field for a pair of Atlantic 10 games this weekend with Charlotte, beginning on Friday, March 30 at 3:00 PM.