Box Score March 9, 2013
Western Michigan Box Score | Youngstown State Box Score
Clearwater, Fla. -
With the offense clicking on Friday, the Fordham pitching staff took center stage on Saturday at the USF Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Florida. In game one, sophomore Michele Daubman tossed a complete game three-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over Western Michigan, while game two saw senior Jamie LaBovick threw her second straight shutout in a 7-0 win over Youngstown State.
With the victories, Fordham has won five straight contests, putting the team's record at 10-9 on the season.
Game one was a pitcher's duel between Fordham's Daubman and Western Michigan's Allyson Kus, as each pitched six scoreless innings entering the seventh.
In the seventh inning, Fordham finally broke the scoreless contest. Paige Ortiz connected for a two-out double and was pinch run for by Jessica Crowley. LaBovick quickly followed with an RBI-single up the middle to put Fordham ahead, 1-0.
Daubman (3-3) held Western Michigan scoreless in the seventh, completing the three-hit shutout, her first of the year and second of her career. At the plate, LaBovick was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Ortiz was 2-for-3 with a double.
The second game of the day was much like the first, as LaBovick tossed her second consecutive shutout of the tournament, as the Rams topped Youngstown State, 7-0.
Fordham got the offense rolling early in the third, as LaBovick opened with a single, and two batters later,
Gabby Luety drilled a two-run home run over the center field fence, her fourth of the year, to put the Rams up two. Three Youngstown errors would lead to another run for Fordham, taking a 3-0 edge.
The Rams then added one in the sixth and three in the seventh to build the lead to 7-0. In the sixth, Fordham put together some more two-out magic as Chelsea Palumbo doubled to right center. LaBovick then helped her own cause with an RBI-single.
In the seventh, Fordham collected three extra-base hits, leading to three more runs. Kayla Lombardo led off with a double down the left field line and scored on a triple by Daubman. An errant throw on the play led to Daubman also scoring. Ortiz then singled and was pinch run for by Crowley. After a passed ball, LaBovick doubled to right center, scoring Crowley for the final run of the game.
LaBovick (7-6) retired the side in the seventh to pick up her third shutout of the season, while going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and two RBI. Besides LaBovick, Daubman was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, with Sammi Smith also picking up a pair of hits.
The Rams wrap up play at the USF Showcase on Sunday against Maine, beginning at 11:15 AM.
