March 21, 2013

Charlotte, N.C. - Due to Saturday's forecast in the Charlotte area, the opening Atlantic 10 series between Fordham and Charlotte has turned into a 3:00 PM doubleheader on Friday at the D.L. Phillips Complex.

LIVE COVERAGE: Charlotte Live Stats | Charlotte's Live Video (PPV)

ATLANTIC 10 OPENING SERIES: The Fordham softball team (15-9) takes a 10-game win streak into its Atlantic 10 opening series at Charlotte on Friday.

Fordham's win streak has seen both consistent offense and strong pitching. Over the last 10 games, Fordham is hitting .364 as a team, while averaging 8.6 runs per contest. The Rams have also been aided by the long ball, hitting 25 home runs in that stretch, which included a school record six in the last contest against Binghamton. In the circle, the team has had a 2.37 ERA and four shutouts.

Charlotte enters Atlantic 10 play with a 12-10 record, and also comes in hitting the ball very well. The 49ers are ranked 17th in the nation in batting average and leads the conference (.329).

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Fordham's trio of Jamie LaBovick, Gabby Luety, and Elise Fortier have led the way offensively. LaBovick is hitting .500 (19-38) over her last ten games with 15 runs scored and a .537 on base percentage. Luety has been dominant in the clean-up spot in her last ten games, batting .484 (15-31) with 11 runs scored, four doubles, seven home runs, 22 RBI, a 1.290 slugging percentage, and a .579 on base percentage. Fortier, who was named A-10 Player of the Week on Tuesday, has kept the table set in front of Luety over this stretch, hitting .400 (12-30) with 17 runs scored, five home runs, 11 RBI, and a .561 on-base percentage.

The Rams are also getting consistent production out of Michele Daubman (.393, 3 HR, 6 RBI), Paige Ortiz (.393, 2 HR, 6 RBI), Kayla Lombardo (.321, 2 HR, 15 RBI), Sammi Smith (.300, 8 runs, 3 SB), Chelsea Palumbo (.294, 3 HR, 5 RBI), and Claudia Law (.429, 6 runs, 1 HR, 3 RBI).

In the circle, Fordham's tandem of LaBovick and Daubman have anchored down over the last ten contests. Daubman is 6-0 in her last six appearances with a 1.21 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 29 innings, while LaBovick is 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA, two shutouts, and 14 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.

SCOUTING CHARLOTTE: Offensively, Briana Gwaltney and Jessica Plemmons have been a solid duo in the 49ers lineup, which boasts seven regulars with a .300 batting average or better. Gwaltney is hitting .394 in 22 games with two home runs and 22 RBI, while Plemmons is batting .388 with 10 doubles, and 14 RBI.

In the circle, Katie Watkins and Chelsea Lisikatos have gotten the majority of the work, Watkins is 7-7 in 16 appearances with a 3.83 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 80.1 innings, while Lisikatos is 4-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 12 appearances.

WHO'S NEXT: Fordham will play at Iona on Wednesday, March 27th, before hosting La Salle on March 28th and George Washington on March 30th at Bahoshy Field.