Photo GalleryBRONX, N.Y. -- 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 the Fordham softball team to a 15-2 five-inning victory over Siena at Bahoshy Field Wednesday. The Rams were leading the second game, 4-3, in the bottom of the third, before rain forced the cancelation of the nightcap. With the win, Fordham improves to 18-16 on the season, while the Saints fall to 9-14 overall.
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.
Lauren Butts (4-4) took the loss in the circle, as she was touched for seven runs (two earned) on five hits in 1.2 innings. She also walked three and struck out three.
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.
Fordham returns to action this weekend when it travels to Amherst, Mass. to play Massachusetts in a three-game series. The two sides will play a doubleheader April 12 starting at 12 p.m., before playing a single contest Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m.
