Box Score Feb. 9, 2013
Southern Illinois Box Score | Virginia Tech Box Score
Clermont, Fla. -
The Fordham softball team split a pair of decisions on the second day of play at the Dot Richardson Collegiate Invitational, falling to Southern Illinois before downing Virginia Tech in the night cap.
The Salukis and Rams engaged in a pitchers' duel over the beginning of Saturday afternoon's contest.
Michele Daubman stepped in the circle for the Rams, not surrendering her first hit until the top of the third inning. The sophomore from North Massapequa, N.Y., struck out four of the first six batters she faced.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth, when three Southern Illinois singles loaded the bases for left fielder Meredith Wilson. Wilson took a 2-2 pitch from Daubman over the centerfield wall, breaking the tie and putting the Salukis ahead 4-0.
In the home half of the sixth, the Rams responded quickly. Elise Fortier drilled a single into centerfield. The next batter, Chelsea Palumbo, reached on an error, as the second baseman misplayed her grounder up the middle and Fortier reached second, giving Fordham two runners on with no outs. A Gabby Luety walk in the following at-bat loaded the bases.
Christina Siesta then stepped in to pinch hit for Paige Ortiz and what happened next bordered on the inconceivable. Siesta lined a shot to third baseman, Kelsea Ashton. She caught it, quickly stepped on third to double up Fortier and fired over to second to catch Palumbo off the bag. The triple play ended Fordham's rally, and Southern Illinois closed out the game in the seventh, taking the victory by a score of four to nothing.
Daubman (1-1) took the loss, pitching 6.2 innings, recording nine strikeouts, whle giving up four runs on seven hits. At the plate, Jamie LaBovick had two of the Rams six hits in the game.
Fordham, the visiting team in the game against Virginia Tech, started off its second contest of the day with some quick offense. LaBovick smacked a single to lead off the game with
Sammi Smith laying down a bunt and reaching first on a throwing error, on which LaBovick advanced to third. Then, Fortier reached on a fielder's choice, driving in LaBovick to put the Rams up, 1-0.
In the top of the third, Fordham added to the lead, as Smith reached on a single before swiping second. Palumbo moved Smith to third on a sac bunt, and Smith scored on wild pitch to extend Fordham's lead to 2-0.
That was all the offense that Fordham needed, as LaBovick pitched a gem. The senior from Peoria, Ariz., blanked the Hokies, tossing seven innings of three-hit ball to give the Rams a victory over a Virginia Tech team that was receiving votes in the NFCA Preseason Poll.
The Rams closed out at the Dot Richardson Collegiate Invitation tomorrow morning, facing Chattanooga at 9 AM.
