Softball Starts 2015 Campaign Friday in Arizona

Tournament Central | Nevada Live Stats | Pacific Live Stats | California Live Stats

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Fordham softball team, the two-time defending Atlantic 10 Conference champions, begins the 2015 season Friday at Arizona State's Kajikawa Classic, which runs Feb. 6-8. The Rams are scheduled to play five games in three days at the Tempe Sports Complex.

Fordham squares off with Nevada (5:45 p.m.) and Fresno State (8 p.m.) Friday evening, before facing Pacific (11:15 a.m.) and California (1:30 p.m.) Saturday. The Rams conclude the classic Sunday against Portland State at 11:30 a.m. All start times are Eastern Standard Time.

Nevada
2014 Season: 27-25 (9-15 Mountain West Conference)
When: Friday, Feb. 6 - 5:45 p.m. EST
Where: Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex - Field One)
Series History: Fordham leads 1-0 (since Feb. 26, 2011)
Last Meeting: Feb. 26, 2011 - Fordham 6 Nevada 2 (in Cathedral City, Calif.)

Fresno State
2014 Season: 31-21 (15-9 Mountain West Conference)
When: Friday, Feb. 6 - 8 p.m. EST
Where: Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex - Field Two)
Series History: Fordham leads 1-0 (since Feb. 6, 2009)
Last Meeting: Feb. 6, 2009 - Fordham 5 #12/14 Fresno State 2 (in Cathedral City, Calif.)

Pacific
2014 Season: 20-28 (8-7 West Coast Conference)
When: Saturday, Feb. 7 - 11:15 a.m. EST
Where: Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex - Field Three)
Series History: Pacific leads 2-0 (since Feb. 23, 2008)
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2013 - Pacific 6 Fordham 5 (in Clearwater, Fla.)

California
2014 Season: 23-29 (4-18 Pac-12 Conference)
When: Saturday, Feb. 7 - 1:30 p.m.. EST
Where: Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex - Field Three)
Series History: California leads 4-0 (since Feb. 18, 2001)
Last Meeting: Feb. 24, 2012 - #1 California 5 Fordham 0 (in Cathedral City, Calif.)

Portland State
2014 Season: 8-36 (3-14 Big Sky Conference)
When: Sunday, Feb. 8 - 11:30 a.m.. EST
Where: Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex - Field Three)
Series History: First Meeting

About the Tourney
Since the beginning of ASU Softball in 1966, ASU has hosted the annual tournament. From 1966-1990, it was named the `Sun Devil Invitational', which found its name changed in 1991 to the Coca-Cola Classic. It remained that until 1999 when the name changed yet again to the `Fiesta Bowl Tournament'. Six years later in 2005, the name was changed for a final time to the `Kajikawa Classic', after "Mr. Sun Devil" himself, Bill Kajikawa, a legendary coach and founder of Sun Devil athletics. This year's field features nine teams that advanced to the postseason in 2014 in ASU, Oregon, Utah Valley, Wisconsin, Fordham, BYU, Northwestern, Texas and Bradley. The tournament will feature 81 games played by 31 teams over four days at five separate fields. 

Where 2014 Left Off
The Rams dropped a pair of games in the 2014 NCAA Regional en route to a 36-20 season overall, as they won their second straight Atlantic 10 title and third in four years. Fordham finished the year 13-3 in conference play and won the regular season championship for the fourth time under head coach Bridget Orchard. The team opened the season 9-14 after playing tough competition, which consisted of four ranked teams, including #1 Florida. But a 15-game win streak later in the year helped turned the season around for the Rams, who also finished 16-2 at home. Elise Fortier was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, while Michele Daubman was named the Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Year. In all, Fordham had a record five players selected First Team All-Conference. Also, Fortier, Daubman and Kayla Lombardo were all named to the NFCA All-Region Team, while Fortier earned ECAC Player of the Year honors.

Up Next
The Rams travel to Tampa, Fla. Next weekend to play in five games at the USF President's Day Weekend Tournament, Feb. 13-15.