Softball at Massachusetts This Weekend for Three-Game Series

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BRONX, N.Y. -- The Fordham softball team (18-16, 4-4 A10) returns to Atlantic 10 play this weekend when the sixth-place Rams travel to Amherst, Mass. to take on seventh-place Massachusetts (8-16, 3-6 A10) in a key three-game series at Sortino Field. The two sides will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 12 p.m., before playing a single contest Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on the Atlantic 10 Network for a small fee.

Last Time Out
Senior Paige Ortiz hit a pair of three-run homers, collected a career-high six RBI, scored three runs and finished 3-for-3, as her career day propelled Fordham to a 15-2 five-inning victory over Siena at Bahoshy Field Wednesday (4/8).
After the Rams scored a single run in the bottom of the first when sophomore Sydney Canessa  scored on redshirt junior Rachel Gillen's bases-loaded walk, the home team exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Ortiz started the rally with a sharp single to left field and advanced to second on freshman Madison Shaw's ground out to second base, before navigating to third when Canessa singled up the middle. She then scored on sophomore Amy Van Hoven's RBI fielder's choice. Everyone was safe on the play when the Siena shortstop made a throwing error.

Sophomore Lindsay Mayer stepped to the plated and worked a walk to reload the bases. After a strikeout occurred for the second out, Gillen delivered a two-run single to stretch the lead to 4-0, as Canessa and Van Hoven both scored. Senior Michele Daubman followed with a RBI single that plated Mayer, and Gillen came around on senior Cora Ianiro's RBI single, which increased the advantage to 6-0. With the lineup batting around, Ortiz drilled the first pitch she saw over the center field fence, as the line-drive homer was her third of the season. Daubman and Ianiro both circled the bases to cap the scoring.

Siena took two runs back in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 9-2. But Fordham hung another crooked number when it scored six times in the bottom half to go in front by the final score of 15-2. Ortiz worked a full count before smashing her second three-run homer of the game on to the tennis courts past the left field fence. Gillen and Ianiro scored as well on Ortiz's fourth home run of the season. The Rams then loaded the bases later in the inning, and Mayer cleared them with a three-run double to the gap in left-center field, as Shaw, Canessa and Van Hoven all scored.

Junior Patti Maloney relieved Gillen in the circle to start the fifth and worked out of trouble to clinch the victory. Gillen (12-7) earned the win after yielding two runs (one earned) on just two hits while walking two and fanning seven.The Ram offense pounded out 13 hits. Canessa reached base four times via three hit by pitches and a single, which led to her scoring three times.  Van Hoven joined Ortiz with three hits and added two runs, while Gillen and Ianiro each scored twice. Mayer reached base three times as well and added three RBI, and Gillen finished with two hits, a walk and three RBI.

Massachusetts
2015 Season: 8-16 (3-6 A-10)
When: Saturday, April 11 - 12 & 2 p.m.; Sunday, April 12 - 12 p.m.
Where: Amherst, Mass. (Sortino Field)
Series History: UMass leads 45-11 (since 1996)
Last Meeting: May 8, 2014 - Fordham 9 Massachusetts 1 (6) (in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Bronx, N.Y.)
What You Need To Know: The Minutewomen, who were picked to finish fourth in the conference, enter the weekend having won three of their last four games, including taking two of three against George Washington last weekend for their first Atlantic 10 series victory. UMass has also lost two of three at George Mason and were swept at Saint Joseph's. The Minutewomen are hitting .265 as a team and have smashed 23 home runs while averaging 3.9 runs per game. Quianna Diaz-Patterson has been on a tear this season, leading the league and ranking third in the country with a .521 batting average, 11th nationally in on-base pct. (.588) and 18th in slugging pct. (.915). She is one of just seven players to rank in the top 20 in all three categories. In the circle, Caroline Raymond earned Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week honors after going 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA in leading UMass to a 3-1 week. Raymond stuck out 10 and allowed 15 hits and an opponent batting average of .203 over 19 innings. Gianna Hathaway has hit safely in four of the last five games and has gone 7-for-14 during the stretch with a double, three HRs, six runs and three RBI.

Up Next
The Rams stay in conference play when they make the long trip to St. Bonaventure, N.Y. to face the Bonnies this Wednesday, April 15 for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.