Atlantic 10 Tournament CentralFAIRFAX, Va. -- Fordham softball head coach
Bridget Orchard collected her 500th career victory on Rose Hill in nail-biting fashion Sunday, as the Rams squeaked out a 1-0 nine-inning victory over George Mason at the George Mason Softball Complex in the regular-season finale. With the win, Fordham sweeps the three-game series, increases its win streak to a season-best seven games, clinches the third seed in next week's Atlantic 10 Tournament, and improves to 32-18 (17-5 A10) on the season, while the Patriots fall to 21-27 (11-12-A10) overall.
The difference in the contest came in the top of the ninth when freshman
Morgan Figueroa delivered a two-out RBI single down the left field line that scored senior
Cora Ianiro, who started the rally with a two-out single. Senior
Brianna Turgeon sustained the rally with an infield single, and an error on the play allowed Ianiro to advance to third.
The Rams escaped trouble in the bottom of the eighth when Mason moved the potential game-winning run to third, but senior
Michele Daubman was able to work out of trouble by inducing a lineout to center field.
Daubman (10-8) earned the victory in the circle after tossing 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, yielding just one hit. Redshirt junior
Rachel Gillen received the no-decision after pitching a strong 7.0 innings, where she allowed just two hits and no walks while fanning seven.
The offense produced 10 hits, with sophomore
Amy Van Hoven, Daubman, Ianiro and Turgeon all collecting two.
Christina Gabriele (9-12) was charged with the loss in the circle after allowing the unearned run on four hits in 2.0 innings of work. Sarah Kleinfelter received a no-decision after throwing 7.0-shutout innings, scattering six hits to go along with three walks and one strikeout.
Fordham returns to action Wednesday, May 6 when they take on St. Bonaventure, who will be the sixth seed, at Sortino Field in Amherst, Mass., with first pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.
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