ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Fordham softball team started play Friday at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic II with a pair of victories over Syracuse, 4-1, and North Florida, 3-0. With the wins, the Rams snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 4-8 on the season, while Orange fall to 4-5 and the Ospreys drop to 3-9 overall.
Game OneAfter junior
Lauren Quense was able to get the final two outs in the bottom of the first with a runner on third, Fordham scored its first run in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Junior
Lindsay Mayer doubled down the left field line to start the inning, graduate student
Rachel Gillen reached on an error, and senior
Cailin Winokur walked to load the bases. Sophomore
Morgan Figueroa then singled home Mayer, but the Rams were unable to do any more damage in the frame despite having the bases loaded and nobody out.
Quense pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the second, and Fordham added another run in the top of the third to increase their lead to 2-0. Junior
Amy Van Hoven beat out an infield single to start the rally and advanced to third with one out on Mayer's single to left center field. Gillen then produced the eventual game-winning hit when she plated Van Hoven with a RBI single center. The Rams advanced runners to second and third with two outs, but they were left stranded.
Syracuse broke through by scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the third, before Fordham scored its final two runs in the top of the fifth to stretch its lead out to the final score of 4-1. Junior
Sydney Canessa singled with one out and move to third on Gillen's two-out single to right center. Winokur then reached on an error, which scored Canessa and advanced Gillen to third. Sophomore
Madison Shaw followed as a pinch hitter and came through with a RBI single to left center that scored Gillen.
Neither side would do much the rest of the way, and Quense retired the last eight batters she faced to clinch the victory. Quense (2-3) went the distance, scattering five hits while walking two and fanning four to earn the win. Mayer and Gillen both finished 2-for-4 to lead the eight-hit attack and scored once.
AnnaMarie Gatti (2-3) took the loss in the circle for the Orange, as she allowed four runs – two earned – on eight hits to go along with two walks and four strikeouts. Maddi Doane collected to of Syracuse's five hits.
Game TwoGillen's start in the circle was the story against North Florida. The southpaw moved to 2-5 on the season after tossing the complete-game shutout that saw her scatter six hits while walking none and whiffing 12.
The Rams scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the third when Canessa hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot over that left field fence that scored freshman
Jessica Hughes, who singled earlier in the inning. Fordham had five hits in the third, but a line-drive double play in front of the long ball hurt, before runners were stranded at the corners when the frame ended.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Rams loaded the bases with two outs, and Hughes provided insurance with an infield single that scored Winokur to increase the advantage to 3-0. Gillen then struck out the side in the top of the seventh, with one of the batters reaching on a passed ball, but she was able to induce a fielder's choice at third base to end the game.
The Rams pounded out 10 hits, with Canessa leading the way with a double, home run, two RBI and a run. Hughes and Shaw both finished with two hits as well, with Hughes adding a double, RBI and a run.
Janet Snipe (0-3) was dealt the loss in the circle after lasting just 2.2 innings. She was tagged for two earned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out one. Stacy McClelland and Jenna Brownell each had two hits for the Ospreys, who finished with six.
Up NextFordham returns to action Saturday when it takes on Penn State at 3:30 p.m. and Morgan State at 5:45 p.m.
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