April 23, 2013

GameTracker | Watch (Free)

SCOUTING IONA: Fordham's neighbors to the northeast, the Iona College Gaels have been struggling so far this season, entering today's contest with a 9-31 record overall and a 5-5 mark in the MAAC.

The Rams and the Gaels have already met once this season. In that affair, Michele Daubman picked up the complete game victory in the circle and Jamie LaBovick registered a 3-4 effort at the dish, helping Fordham top Iona by a 3-2 margin.

For Iona, Beth Kann and Allison Hand lead the Gaels in most major offensive categories. Kann, a senior utility player from Oneida, N.Y., tops the Gaels with a .302 average, 39 hits and seven dingers. Hailing from Orange, Calif., Hand leads Iona in runs, RBIs and doubles.

Iona has had trouble in the circle this season, posting a team ERA of 5.63 while allowing opponents to hit .327. Carly Argyle makes a majority of starts for the Gaels, compiling a team-best 4.32 ERA with a 7-17 record in 34 appearances. Jordan Courage is the only other Gael to have toed the rubber for more than ten starts, as she enters the game with a 1-8 record and an ERA of 7.63.

LAST TIME OUT: Michele Daubman pitched a gem while Elise Fortier and Cora Ianiro came up big at the dish, securing a Fordham sweep of Dayton with a 4-1 win over the Flyers on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Rams improved to 27-16 on the year and 11-5 in the A-10. The loss dropped Dayton to 17-20 for the season with an 8-7 record in conference.

Daubman pitched a complete game in the victory, allowing only one hit and no earned runs over seven innings of work. The Plainedge, N.Y., native surrendered no walks and struck out two.

Both pitchers were firing early, as Daubman and Kayla English of Dayton retired the side in order in each of the first two innings.

Dayton got on the board first in the top of the third, as back to back errors from Fordham allowed a Dayton runner to cross home, putting the Flyers up by a 1-0 margin.

English continued to work for Dayton, not allowing Fordham to pick up a hit in any of the first four frames.

The Rams, however, finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Daubman singled to center to start off the inning and give the Rams their first hit of the game. Chelsea Palumbo then moved Daubman over to second with a sac bunt and Paige Ortiz drew a walk after that, giving the Rams runners on first and second with one out. The hero of Friday's win, Cora Ianiro pinch hit for Sammi Smith and smacked a single up the middle, scoring Daubman from second and tying the game at one. After Jamie LaBovick flew out to center field, Fortier stepped to the plate and hit a moon shot well over the left field fence, knocking in three and putting the Rams up 4-1.

Daubman made quick work of the Flyers over the game's final two innings, retiring the side in the sixth and seventh to seal the victory.

MAKING HISTORY: Her streak has finally come to an end, but its culmination has allowed Fordham fans to appreciate how truly amazing a streak it was. With a hit in 28 straight games before Sunday's win over Dayton, Jamie LaBovick not only surpassed the Fordham softball record (Nicole Callahan, 17-2012) and the school-wide record (Bob DiVencenzo and Ray Montgomery, 21-1977 and 1988), but also the all-time Altantic 10 softball mark for the longest hit streak in conference history. Barb Marean of UMass previously held the record with a 27 game hit streak in 1992.

WHO'S NEXT? The Rams will get right back into action following today's game with the Gaels, hosting the Pride of Hofstra University tomorrow at Bahoshy Field in a 6 PM tilt.