May 7, 2012
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Bronx, N.Y. -
Monday night in the Bronx will be a historic evening as the Fordham softball team closes out its regular season schedule by hosting #3/4 Alabama at 6:00 PM on Bahoshy Field. The SEC power Crimson Tide represent the highest ranked softball team to ever visit Fordham and the highest rated team to play a Ram squad since #2 Saint Joseph's visited the Rose Hill Gym for a men's basketball game in 2004.
The Rams enter the contest following a weekend highlight by a 17-inning masterpiece between two All-American pitchers that became the longest game in school history, as well as a memorable Senior Day ceremony on Sunday.
Offensively, the Rams are led by a senior and a freshman. Lindsey Kay Bright enters the game leading the team in hitting (.372), on base percentage (.413) and stolen bases (nine). Earlier in the season, she had a 9-for-9 week at the plate that helped her earn A-10 Player of the Week honors. Also, she became just the fifth Fordham softball player to reach 200 career hits, a feat she accomplished at Dayton on April 27.
Newcomer Paige Ortiz is having a positive effect in the Fordham lineup. She 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, Rams' preseason All-American Jen Mineau is currently 24-13 on the year and ranked second in the NCAA with 375 strikeouts. She was named A-10 Pitcher of the Week for the third time on April 9 while she picked up her 100th career win at Dayton on April 27th. Mineau leads the A-10 in ERA (1.57), while ranking second in wins (24).
The Crimson Tide enters Monday's game having claimed its third straight SEC title over the weekend, after winning two-of-three games with #7 Florida. The team is 47-6 overall, 15-2 on the road. The Crimson Tide features a lineup with eight hitters above the .300 mark including Amanda Locke, who is batting .347 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI.
In the circle, Alabama is led by features Jackie Traina, who is 31-2 with a 1.78 ERA and 268 strikeouts in 204.2 innings, and Leslie Jury, who has an 11-3 record with a 2.33 ERA.
These two schools last met in the 2011 Citrus Classic, when the Crimson Tide were ranked #1 overall. Fordham gave Alabama all it could handle, as the game was tied at one in the seventh. The Crimson Tide scored twice in the final inning for a narrow, 3-1 win. That was the only meeting between the two schools.
Following the Alabama game, Fordham travels to St. Louis, Missouri to compete in the Atlantic 10 championship. The Rams are the #2 seed, which gives them a first-round bye on Wednesday. Their opponent on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (EST) will be the winner of the #3 Temple/#6 Saint Joseph's game on Wednesday.
