Softball Opens A-10 Play with Sweep of George Washington

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2014) – The Fordham University softball squad ended a long road trip, a trip that started over a week ago , by officially starting their Atlantic 10 title defense and came away with a doubleheader sweep of George Washington University, 2-0 and 10-2 (6), on the GW Softball Field.
 
With the sweep, the Rams even their overall record at 15-15 while the Colonials fall to 11-18-1.
 
Michele Daubman led the way for the Rams, throwing a complete game, one-hitter, in game one and then driving in four runs in the nightcap, including a three-run home run in the sixth that made it 10-2.
 
Game One (Box Score)
Daubman was almost flawless on the mound, allowing just one hit while fanning three for her ninth complete game and third shutout of the season.
 
Fordham got all the runs they would need in the third as with one out, Amy Van Hoven walked and the next batter, Elise Fortier doubled to left field to bring her in. One out later, Fortier scored on a Gabby Luety double to right field.
 
Daubman allowed lead off walks in the first and second, with the base runner in the first advancing to third, but Daubman got out of the inning by getting Victoria Valos to ground into a 5-3 double play to end the frame.
 
The Colonials also threatened in the fifth as a hit by pitch and walk put runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice moved the runners up a base but Daubman struck out Alexandra Del Prete and got Megan Linn to fly out to keep George Washington off the scoreboard.
 
Daubman then settled down and retired the final six Colonial batters to pick up her eighth win of the year.
 
Game Two (Box Score)
After seeing a runner thrown out at the plate in the first inning, the Rams erupted for three runs against George Washington starter Meghan Rico in the second. With one out, Daubman walked and a Brianna Turgeon single moved her to second. Paige Ortiz's fielder's choice eliminated Daubman at third but the next batter, Cora Ianiro, laced a double to right center to plate Turgeon. A Sydney Canessa single then brought in Ortiz and Ianiro to make it 3-0 for the Rams.
 
The Rams picked up two more in the third when Daubman walked with the bases loaded and Turgeon followed with an RBI single but George Washington matched that with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on a Morgan Matetic two-run home run, her second of the year.
 
Fordham got the two runs back in the top of the fifth as Luety walked and Brianna Ciuffi pinch ran for her. Two outs later, Ortiz singled Ciuffi to second and then Ianiro walked to load the bases. A Canessa single scored Ciuffi and Ortiz would score a few pitches later on a wild pitch to put Fordham up, 7-2.
 
The Rams put the game out of reach with a three-run sixth with all three runs coming on Daubman's three-run bomb, her second of the year.
 
Rachel Gillen pitched three perfect innings of relief, striking out three, to pick up the win in the circle for the Rams and even her record at 3-3 on the year. Canessa was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI at the plate in game two while Turgeon was 3-for-4 and Daubman drove in four runs.
 
The Rams return to action on Wednesday, March 26, as they host the St. John's University Red Storm on Bahoshy Field at 3:00 p.m.