Box Score Feb. 8, 2013
Chattanooga Box Score | LIU Box Score
Clermont, Fla. - While the Northeast feels the wrath of a blizzard, the Fordham softball team felt nothing but sunshine as the Rams kicked off their 2013 campaign with a pair of wins at the Dot Richardson Collegiate Invitational in Clermont, Fla.
Squaring off against Chattanooga in the first game, the Rams fell behind early, as Anyssa Robles singled home a run with two outs in the top of the first to put the Mocs up, 1-0.
After Michele Daubman retired the side in order in the top of the 2nd, the Rams answered back, rallying for three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Sammi Smith knocked in a run with an RBI single, while Jessica Crowley scored on an error and Elise Fortier drew an RBI walk.
Chattanooga scored a run in the top half of the third, fourth and fifth innings, giving the Mocs a 4-3 lead after four and a half.
The Rams remained scoreless over the next two innings, and Chattanooga drove in another run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to two, 5-3, heading into the final frame.
Freshman Allie Bradian pinch hit for Cailin Winokur to lead off the bottom of the seventh, and after Jamie LaBovick popped out to the shortstop, Smith moved Bradian over to second with a one base hit.
Fortier stepped to the plate next for the Rams, sending a fly ball to right field that was misplayed by the Chattanooga fielder, resulting in Bradian crossing the plate and leaving runners on first and second with one out.
Next, Gabby Luety stepped to the plate and the junior from Cortland, N.Y., delivered the heroics, smashing a two-run double and letting her team emerge with the victory.
Daubman earned the win in the circle, allowing three earned runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings of work with five strikeouts.
While the first affair of the day came down to the wire for the Rams, the second matchup of the day proved far less stressful against the Blackbirds of LIU.
Chelsea Palumbo started off the scoring in the second inning when LaBovick singled her home from third base.
In the third, the Rams' bats ignited again as Paige Ortiz singled home a pair and a three run double from Taylor Pirone put Fordham ahead 6-0.
Then, in the fourth, a Palumbo moon shot to left scored two, and the Rams moved ahead 8-0.
After LIU scored three runs in the bottom half of the fourth and added two more in the bottom half of the fifth, the Rams batted around in the top of the sixth, sending ten batters to the plate in a frame that saw six Fordham runs. Daubman doubled in a pair, LaBovick cracked a two-run goner and Fortier hammered one over the center field fence to score two more.
LIU scored one run in the bottom of the sixth, but the eight-run rule kicked in and Fordham won the contest, 14-6, in six innings.
LaBovick did it all in the second game for the Rams, pitching 4.1 innings and picking up the win while also going 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBI at the dish.
Fortier and Palumbo also looked impressive in the afternoon tilt, with each going 3-3 with a home run and a pair of RBI.
The Rams will continue their stay in Clermont with games against Southern Illinois and Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon.
