Atlantic 10 Release

BRONX, N.Y.- Following a week that saw the Rams clinch their third Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship in program history, a trio of Rams has been honored by the conference for their outstanding performance in a 4-0 week.


Elise Fortier (Coventry, R.I./Coventry) was named the conference Player of the Week, Rachel Gillen (Wilmington, Del./Archmere Academy) was named the Co-Pitcher of the Week and Amy Van Hoven (West Monroe, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse) took home Rookie of the Week honors.


Fortier continued her assault on the Fordham record books during a 4-0 week for the Rams, helping Fordham extend its winning streak to 15 games..  The Coventry, R.I., native batted .444 on the week, belting four home runs, driving in 14 runs and slugging 1.778.  After drawing two walks in the opening game of a doubleheader against St. Bonaventure on Tuesday, Fortier went off in game two, blasting a pair of home runs and tying a career-high with five RBI.  Then, in a crucial doubleheader against La Salle on Saturday, Fortier belted two more dingers, setting a new career high with seven RBI in the second contest of the twin bill. 


Her eight RBI on Saturday gave her 64 on the season, breaking 2010 A-10 Player of the Year Beckah Wiggins' single season record of 60.  Her two home runs also gave her sole possession of second place on the Fordham career list, just three behind 2011 A-10 Player of the Year Jocelyn Dearborn, who registered 45 during her career.  A thing to remember about Fortier, however: her career total has come in only a three-year stretch at Rose Hill. 


After sitting out for nearly two years following a transfer from Virginia and Tommy John surgery, Gillen tossed her first collegiate no-hitter on Tuesday, striking out seven Bonnies in five innings to lead the Rams in a 12-0 victory.  After she became the fourth pitcher in Fordham history to throw a no-no on Tuesday, the Wilmington, Del., native picked up another win against La Salle on Saturday, allowing only one earned run in four innings of work to improve to 8-3 on the year and help the Rams secure the A-10 Regular Season Championship.  Gillen shares he weekly honor with Brianna Lore of Saint Louis.
               

Gillen also helped her own cause at the plate, hitting .357 on the week with two runs batted in and a pair of extra-base hits.


Freshman Amy Van Hoven continued her absolutely stellar rookie season for the Rams, hitting .714 (10-14) with seven runs scored and an RBI last week.  The West Monroe, N.Y., native went 3-4 with a triple in the opening game against the Bonnies on Tuesday before going a perfect 3-3 with an RBI in the second game of the doubleheader.  She then went a combined 4-7 against La Salle, bumping her season average to a team-best .371 and raising her A-10 average to a league-leading .533.