Softball Slams Portland State, 8-0

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Senior Michele Daubman's two-run home run in the top of the sixth broke a scoreless tie and helped propel the Fordham softball team to an 8-0 victory Sunday over Portland State to conclude Arizona State's Kajikawa Classic. With the victory, the Rams improve to 2-3 on the season, while the Vikings fall to 2-3 overall.

Senior Rachel Gillen (2-1) collected the complete-game shutout in the circle and scattered five hits while walking one and striking out seven.

Fordham had runners in scoring position in three of the first five innings, while Gillen worked out of trouble in the third, fourth and fifth frames. With one out in the top of the sixth, senior Kayla Lombardo singled up the middle and was replaced for a pinch runner in freshman Morgan Figueroa. Daubman then came to the plate and belted her first home run of the season over the left field fence.

The Rams then broke the game wide open in the top of the seventh with six runs to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Sophomore Ally Vergona singled up the middle to start the inning and advanced to second on senior Cora Ianiro's sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Sydney Canessa then stroked a double to right-center field advancing Vergona to third.

Sophomore Amy Van Hoven followed with a two-run single up the middle to plate Vergona and Canessa, and Van Hoven moved to second on the throw home. After a pitching change, Van Hoven came around on sophomore Lindsay Mayer's RBI single to right-center field, which increased the lead to 5-0.

Lombardo was then hit by a pitch, and Mayer tagged up to third on Daubman's fly ball to center field. Senior Brianna Turgeon produced the big blow with a three-run homer over the left field fence to extend the advantage to 8-0 and cap the scoring.

Fordham pounded out 10 hits, with eight different players scoring. Canessa, Van Hoven and Turgeon all had two hits, while Turgeon led the way with three RBI on her first home run of the season. Van Hoven and Daubman added two RBI for the Rams.

Kristen Crawford started in the circle for Portland State and received a no-decision after tossing 4.0 scoreless frames. Meagan Hendrix (0-1) was charged with the loss after issuing five earned runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work. Lexi Goranson had two hits for the Vikings.

Fordham returns to action next weekend, Feb. 13-15, at South Florida's President's Day Weekend Tournament in Tampa, Fla. The Rams will play five games against St. John's, Tennessee, Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida and Detroit.