Softball Welcomes Hofstra Wednesday Looking For Six Straight Wins

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BRONX, N.Y. -- The Fordham softball team (11-13) looks to keep the victory train rolling Wednesday when it aims for its sixth straight win when the Rams host Hofstra (11-8) in nonconference action at Bahoshy Field, with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. Fans unable to attend will have the opportunity to listen to the game for free online on WFUV.

Last Time Out
Fordham increased its win streak to five games Sunday with a 10-2 run-rule victory over Saint Peter's in six innings at Bahoshy Field to conclude the Fordham Tournament. The visitors struck quickly in the top of the first when Sam Storm stroked a two-out, two-run homer over the left field fence off starter Rachel Gillen. The Rams were unable to score over the first two innings but broke out in a big way in the bottom of the third when they scored four times to take the lead for good at 4-2.

The frame started when freshman Chelsea Skrepenak was able to take two bases when the Peacocks' second baseman dropped a routine popup. With one out, fellow classmate Jessica Hughes singled Skrepenak to third, before stealing second base, bringing Amy Van Hoven to the plate. The junior plated the two first-year Rams with a two-run single to tie the game. Van Hoven then advanced to second on a throwing error by the right fielder on the play. 

Junior Sydney Canessa followed with a single that navigated Van Hoven to third and a steal of second base.  Fellow classmate Lindsay Mayer ripped a single to left field that drove home Van Hoven, and Canessa then scored when the left fielder made a mistake, which allowed Mayer to end up on second capping the scoring.

After Gillen struck out the side in the top of the fourth after issuing a leadoff single, Skrepenak once again led off the inning, but this time with a ringing double off the wall in right center field. She moved to third on sophomore Morgan Figueroa's sac bunt and scampered home on a wild pitch when a walked was worked by Hughes, who alertly took second base. Van Hoven then walked as well and both runners advanced into scoring position after a passed ball. With two outs, Hughes scored when Mayer reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, which increased the advantage to 6-2.

Fordham added a single run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-2 when Hughes smoked a single off the pitcher's foot with the bases loaded that plated pinch runner Cailin Winokur, but the Rams were unable to add on, as the final two batters both flew out. The home team finally clinched the game in the bottom of the sixth when Mayer reached on an error to start the inning and advanced to second on a Gillen single, before Shaw drilled a three-run, walk-off, line-drive home run over the center field fence to win the contest, 10-2.

Fordham pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of five Peacocks' errors. Hughes and Van Hoven set the tone at the top of the order with two apiece and one stolen base as well, while Hughes and Skrepenak scored twice. Shaw led the way with three RBI on her third home run of the season, and Van Hoven added two RBI. Gillen (7-8) scattered four hits, allowing only two after the first inning in the complete-game effort, while walking one and whiffing seven. Canessa, Gillen, Mayer and Shaw were all named to the All-Tournament Team, and Quense was named the MVP.

About Hofstra
The Pride enter Wednesday's game having won its last two and three of four last weekend at their own invitational. They beat St. John's twice (5-1, 8-0 in 6) and Connecticut once (10-8) while falling to the Huskies (9-3) as well. Overall, Hofstra has won four of its last five and has two victories this season over Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis (9-1, 10-2 in 5), which took place at the FGCU Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla.

Offensively, the Pride is slashing .279/.340/.443 with 16 home runs, 83 RBI, 139 hits, 93 runs and 11 stolen bases (in 14 attempts). Brittany Allocca is slashing .340/.410/.547 with 18 hits, three home runs and 12 RBI to lead a group of four hitting .300 or better. Kim Smith is right behind with a slash line of .328/.323/.578, with team highs of 21 hits, four home runs and 14 RBI to go along with 11 runs and a pair of stolen bases, while Caryn Bailey is slashing .316/.391/.526, with 18 hits, 11 runs, a team-high 10 doubles and 11 RBI. Michaela Transue has a team-best 15 runs and 11 walks to go along with two home runs, and Brielle Pietrafesa also has four home runs and 14 RBI.

In the circle, Hofstra has pitched to a 4.32 ERA over 121.2 innings while opponents are hitting .267. The staff has also tossed seven complete games, including one shutout, yielded 124 hits and 81 walks but only 44 strikeouts. Jessica Peslak is the ace and is 7-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 12 starts, completing half of them along with the only shutout. She has given up 65 hits and 34 walks over 69.0 innings of work while striking out 30. Courtney Scarpato is the closer for the Pride and has three saves in 11 appearances out of the bullpen in 15.1 innings of action.

The Pride leads the all-time series, 11-3, which dates back to 1986, and won last year's meeting on Long Island, 7-1 in a rain-shortened five-inning game April 22, 2015. The Rams defeated Hofstra, 3-2, in the last meeting at Bahoshy Field April 1, 2014.

Rams Sweep Weekly Atlantic 10 Honors
The Fordham softball team swept the Atlantic 10's weekly honors, as junior Amy Van Hoven was named Player of the Week, junior Lauren Quense was named Pitcher of the Week, and freshman Jessica Hughes was named Co-Rookie of the week, it was announced Monday by the league for games play March 7-13.

Van Hoven broke out of a season-long slump in a big way over the weekend batting .600 (6-for-10) with six runs, three RBI, three stolen bases, four walks and an on-base percentage of .714 to help lead the Rams to a 4-0 weekend. Fordham picked up a pair of wins over Providence and Saint Peter's at the Fordham Tournament. She was also named the College Sports Madness Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Tuesday.

Quense was named the MVP of this past weekend's Fordham Tournament after posting a record of 2-0 in the circle with an ERA of 0.70 over 10.0 innings pitched. She allowed only one earned run on two base hits while striking out 13. She was also a contributor on the offensive end, batting .300 (3-10) with a grand slam and six RBI. 

Hughes hit safely in all four games this weekend, as she hit .462 (6-for-16) with her first career triple, six runs, three RBI, two walks and four stolen bases while slugging .615 and having on-base percentage of .533. This is the second time she has been named a Rookie of the Week.

Up Next
Fordham returns to action March 18-20 when travels to Towson, Md. to take on Towson, Mount St. Mary's and Villanova at Towson's Tiger Classic.