Box Score May 5, 2012
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Bronx, N.Y. -
After an epic and historic matchup on Friday between a pair of All-American pitchers, the second game between Fordham and Massachusetts on Saturday turned out to be an understated match, as Massachusetts defeated Fordham 6-1, on Bahoshy Field. The Rams fall to 30-22 overall, 14-4 in the Atlantic 10, while the Minutewomen improve to 33-11, 17-0 in conference play.
Fordham starter Michele Daubman showed some moxie in the very first inning as Cyndil Matthew reached on an infield single and promptly stole second. With a runner in scoring position and no outs, Daubman retired the next three hitters on a pop-up, a foul out and a strikeout to escape unscathed.
Daubman had a nearly identical situation an inning later as UMass pitcher Sarah Plourde singled to lead off the frame. She was replaced on the bases by Mikayla Panko who got into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. But Daubman reared back and got Tiffany Meeks on strikes and induced Teea Rogers to ground out to end the threat.
The third inning was extra busy for Daubman as the Rams needed four outs to get out of the frame. After the first two batters went down, Quianna Diaz-Patterson struck out, but reached first on a passed ball. Kylie Magill then singled to right and took second when Kayla Lombardo threw to third in an attempt to get Diaz-Patterson. With two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, Daubman struck out Lindsey Webster to retire the side.
Both sides went in order in the fourth, but UMass finally scored in the fifth as Matthew connected on a two-out triple to left field. Diaz-Patterson followed with a walk and stole second uncontested. Magill them plated both runners with a base hit up the middle and took second on the throw home. A Webster single to left then delivered Magill to give the Minutewomen a 3-0 lead.
Fordham answered in the bottom of the fifth as Chelsea Palumbo led off the inning with a solo shot on to the tennis courts behind the left field wall, her fourth home run of the season.
UMass extended its lead in the seventh off of Fordham reliever Taylor Pirone. Matthew reached on an infield hit and stole her second base of the game. Diaz-Patterson drove her in with a base hit to make it 4-1. Three batters later, Plourde finished the scoring with a two-run shot over the wall in left to put UMass up 6-1.
Plourde went the distance for the Minutemen to improve to 32-9. Daubman took the loss for the Rams, falling to 3-5 on the year.
The Rams return to action on Sunday, May 6, when they host the Rhode Island Rams at Bahoshy Field for an Atlantic 10 doubleheader beginning at noon. A special Senior Day celebration will take place between games.
