Box Score May 9, 2013
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AMHERST, Mass. -
Paige Ortiz registered a career-high five runs batted in and Michele Daubman threw seven innings of two-run ball to lead the Rams in an 8-2 win over the Temple Owls on Day Two of the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Amherst, Mass.
With the win, Fordham moves to 33-20 on the year and advances to take on Saint Joe's in a battle of tournament unbeatens tomorrow at 10 AM.
Daubman looked impressive early for the Rams, allowing only one hit in two innings of work.
In the top of the second, the Fordham offense that's registered the best batting average to date in Rams history came through in a big way. Gabby Luety started off the frame with a double to the gap in right center and advanced to third on the next play when the center and right fielders miscommunicated on a Daubman fly ball to right center. Daubman made it to second on the play. Kayla Lombardo drew a walk after Daubman, giving the Rams bases juiced with no outs. Next up was Brianna Turgeon and the Mystic, Conn., native lined a single up the middle, driving in the first run of the game. Next, Ortiz stepped to the dish with the bases loaded and gave it a ride. The sophomore sent the ball over the fence in left center, pushing the Rams ahead by a score of 5-0 in the bottom of the second.
Daubman continued to dazzle in the circle after the Rams offense exploded. She allowed no hits in the top of the third and made sure that a runner who reached on an error never crossed the plate.
The Rams went down in order in the third, but Daubman retired the Owls with ease after surrendering a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth.
Then, in the bottom of the fourth, the Rams pushed across a pair. Lombardo walked to start off the inning and Turgeon followed that up with a single down the right field line. Paige Ortiz, already with a grand slam under her belt, singled home Lombardo from second, giving her a career-high fifth RBI on the game.
Brianna Ciuffi, who pinch ran for Turgeon after her single, moved to third on a Cora Ianiro lineout and scored on the next play when Jamie LaBovick hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field.
After the inning, the Rams led 7-0 heading into the fifth.
The Owls managed to grab a run from Daubman in the fifth, stringing together three singles to chip the deficit down to six.
The Rams got the first two batters of the fifth inning on base, but a pitching change from Temple stopped the bleeding, as three straight Rams went down to end the inning.
Daubman got out of trouble in the sixth, retiring three straight with the help of an impressive double play turned by Lombardo at third. Two batters had reached base to start off the inning for Temple.
Chelsea Palumbo registered her eighth RBI in the last three games in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Sammi Smith on a groundout to first base.
Sarah Prezioso hit a solo shot for Temple in the top of the seventh, but the Rams' victory was never in doubt, as Fordham emerged with an 8-2 win in their first game of the A-10 Tournament.
After playing a thrilling two game series in the Rams' final home games of the regular season, Fordham and Saint Joe's will meet tomorrow at 10 AM. GameTracker and a live video stream will be available on Atlantic10.com.
