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Twitter Updates @FordhamSoftballBRONX, N.Y. -- The Fordham softball team (13-13, 1-2 A10) continues Atlantic 10 play this weekend when it welcomes La Salle (4-6, 2-0 A10) to Bahoshy Field for a three-game series beginning Saturday at 1 p.m. The two sides will conclude the set Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
Last Time OutThe Rams claimed their home opener Wednesday at a rainy Bahoshy Field, 8-4, over Iona. 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 then 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.
La Salle2015 Season: 4-6 (2-0 A10)
When: Saturday, March 28 - 1 p.m.; Sunday, March 29 - 1 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Where: Bronx, N.Y. (Bahoshy Field)
Series History: Fordham leads 30-23 (since 1985)
Last Meeting: April 26, 2014 - Fordham 11 La Salle 2 (5 innings), Fordham 8 La Salle 2 (in Philadelphia, Pa.)
What You Need To Know: The Explorers, who have only played 10 games this season because of weather issues, enter the weekend series on a three-game win streak after defeating local rival Penn (7-6) earlier this week and sweeping their A-10-opening rain-shortened series at George Washington (10-1, 3-1) last weekend. The La Salle offense is struggling, hitting only .205 as a team while averaging 3.5 runs per game. Christina Bascara is hitting .409 with nine hits, five runs, one home run, four RBI and two stolen bases, while Valerie Pineiro (.294) and Michelle Hagarty (.250) each have two home runs, with Hagarty collecting six runs and six RBI. The pitching staff has pitched to a 3.84 ERA over 62.0 innings with 78 hits, 38 walks and 42 strikeouts. Mary Cate Scott has made three starts and has a 1.11 ERA over 25.1 innings in the circle. She is 2-2 with one save, 13 walks and 20 strikeouts. McKenzie Peace and Alicia Aughton each own a 1-2 record on the year having thrown 20.2 and 16.0 innings, respectively, with Aughton holding a 4.38 ERA on the year.
Up NextThe Rams continue their homestand this Wednesday, April 1 when they host Syracuse in a 3 p.m. contest at Bahoshy Field.
