April 17, 2012

Uniondale, N.Y. - The Fordham softball team has a perfect 5-0 record against opponents from the Empire State and the Rams will look to make it 6-0 when they travel to nearby Uniondale, New York, for a mid-week game with Hofstra on Tuesday, April 17, beginning at 6:00 PM.

The Rams enter the contest on a four-game winning streak with sweeps over Siena and Saint Louis last week. Familiar faces led the team as Jen Mineau threw three complete games, including a shutout, while Paige Ortiz hit a home run.

Offensively, the Rams are led by a senior and a freshman. Lindsey Kay Bright enters the day leading the team in hitting (.394), on base percentage (.423) and stolen bases (seven). She is four hits shy of becoming the fifth Fordham softball player to reach 200 career hits.

Newcomer Paige Ortiz is having a positive effect in the Fordham lineup. Ortiz leads the team in home runs, RBI, total bases and slugging and was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on March 26.

In the circle, the Rams preseason All-American Jen Mineau is currently 21-9 on the year and ranked second in the NCAA with 299 strikeouts on the year. She was named Pitcher of the Week for the third time on April 9 while last week, she picked up three wins against Siena and Saint Louis, including a shutout against the Billikens on April 14. Taylor Pirone and Michele Daubman have also seen time on the rubber this year.

The Pride are 14-2 at home this season, 24-13 overall. They share several common opponents with the Rams as both teams have faced Virginia, East Carolina, Pitt, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Rutgers, Binghamton and Lehigh. The Pride are 5-5 against those teams while the Rams are 6-7.

Olivia Galati is the do-all leader of the team as she enters play leading Hofstra in batting (.368) and doubles (nine), and she is second in RBI (28) and runs (27). In the circle, she 18-5 with a 1.28 ERA and has 21 complete games and nine shutouts. Galati has struck out 201 batters in 153.2 innings pitched.

The Pride have several other offensive threats. Rachael Senatore is hitting .356 and leads the team in runs (29), hits (47) and stolen bases (eight). Tessa Ziemba paces Hofstra in home runs (eight), RBI (30) and doubles (seven) while batting .342.

Following the game with Hofstra, the Rams return home as they face Atlantic 10 conference foe, St. Bonaventure for a weekend series beginning on Friday, April 20, at 3:00 PM.