Softball Handles Iona, 8-4, in Home Opener

BRONX, N.Y. -- The Fordham softball team claimed its home opener Wednesday at a rainy Bahoshy Field, 8-4, over Iona. With the victory, the Rams improve to 13-13 on the season, while the Gaels fall to 2-13 overall.

Sophomore Lindsay Mayer's second home run of the season broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. Fellow classmate Sydney Canessa came around to score on the big fly to help give Fordham a 2-0 lead.

Redshirt junior Rachel Gillen knocked her first home run of the season with a solo shot over the left-center field fence in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 3-0.

Iona answered with two runs in the top of the fifth on Christine Costello's two-run shot, which sliced the Ram advantage to 3-2. But the Rams took both runs back and added a third with a three spot in the bottom half of the frame to stretch their lead to 6-2.

With the bases loaded, sophomore Stephanie Ferri stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and delivered a clutch two-run double high off the fence down the left field line that plated seniors Kayla Lombardo and Michele Daubman. Senior Paige Ortiz capped the scoring by hitting a first-pitch RBI sacrifice fly to center field that scored fellow classmate Cora Ianiro.

The Gaels, however, fought back in the top of the sixth with two more runs to crawl back within two at 6-4, using another two-run homer, this time from Kristen Turner. And once again, Fordham answered in the bottom half, scoring two times on a Mayer RBI single and an Ianiro RBI fielder's choice. Canessa and Van Hoven scored on each play to produce the final tally of 8-4.

Daubman (3-5) earned the victory in the circle after tossing the first 5.0 innings. She allowed two earned runs on four hits, walked none and struck out one. Gillen pitched the final two innings in relief, where she yielded two earned runs on two hits while walking none and fanning two.

Mayer collected two of the nine Rams' hits and added three RBI, while Canessa added two runs and Ferri two RBI.

Costello (0-2) was charged with the loss in the circle after allowing three earned runs on six hits over the first four innings. She walked two and recorded the only strikeout for Iona. Costello, along with Turner, had two RBI, with Turner recording two of the Gaels' six hits.

Fordham returns to action Thursday when it hosts Seton Hall for a 3 p.m. contest at Bahoshy Field.