Softball to Compete in Diamond 9 Citrus Classic I this Weekend

Listen Live | Live Stats vs. Georgia Southern
Twitter Updates @FordhamSoftball
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team (7-3) is onto its third tournament of the campaign after posting winning records at the first two. The Rams will head out to Orlando, Fla. this weekend for the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic I for the seventh season in a row. Friday boasts two unique match-ups; first, an exhibition match-up with the Czech Republic national team at 11 a.m., followed by #3 Florida, who was ranked first overall a week ago, at 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, Fordham will take on Oakland and Elon, and then Georgia Southern on Sunday.
 
All but the Georgia Southern contest can be listened to live via WFUV at the link above. That contest will, however, be available via live stats.  
 
Last Time Out
Fordham enjoyed a 3-2 record at last week's Pirate Clash, hosted by East Carolina. The Rams took game one, 8-0, against Bryant in six innings behind a combined shutout from Lauren Quense and Taylor Stocks and a season-high 12 walks, but took a tough loss in nine innings, 5-3, to Saint Francis in the second game of the doubleheader. Madison Aughinbaugh lasted until the ninth, tossing 8.1 innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts, before a throwing error by Ally Vergona and RBI single did the decisive damage. They got their revenge the following day with a 6-1 win over the Red Flash thanks to another complete game gem from Quense (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K) and big games from Sydney Canessa and Madison Shaw. In the nightcap, Fordham fell to the hosts, 3-2, on a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh. Jessica Hughes had tied the game up in the fifth inning with a solo home run and finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate. Sunday provided the fireworks to round out the weekend, with the offense exploding for 16 runs against Bryant to run-rule the Bulldogs in six innings, while Quense tossed her first career no-hitter. The offense tallied 16 hits and eight walks compared to two strikeouts and featured nine players batting .500 or better in the contest.
 
For the weekend, Madison Shaw and Hughes both enjoyed tremendous success at the plate, batting .571 and .556, respectively. Hughes missed two games due to illness but batting 5-for-9 with two home runs and three stolen bases. Shaw tallied eight hits in 14 at bats. Seven Rams batted over .300 for the weekend. Quense finished with a 3-0 record, 0.40 ERA, and two complete games across four appearances.
 
Shaw, Quense Named Atlantic 10 Player, Pitcher of the Week
Make it two weekly honors in a row for Quense after hurling the program's 14^th no-hitter and becoming to fifth Ram to ever accomplish the feat. The Langhorne, Pa. native was terrific yet again, winning all three of her starts to make it six straight to begin the campaign. Shaw was a force at the plate and in the middle of the lineup for her first weekly away of 2017. Read more about their accomplishments here.
 
Quense Tosses 14^th No-Hitter in Program History
The senior hurler was lights out against Bryant on Sunday, tossing six innings of no-hit ball, allowing just a fourth-inning walk, plus a batter that reached on an error later in the contest, with three strikeouts. Quense became the fifth Ram to ever throw a no-hitter in program history.  
 
Series History vs. This Weekend's Opponents
                - Florida holds a 2-0 all-time advantage since 2007. The Gators were ranked both times, #19 in 2007 and #1 overall three seasons ago when they were victorious, 9-2. Their first meeting came in Gainesville, with Florida winning, 5-3. Canessa and Amy Van Hoven batted one-two in 2014 but only the latter was able to muster a single and a run scored. Stephanie Ferri also took an at bat and Quense featured out of the bullpen for 0.2 innings with a walk and a strikeout.
                - Fordham has never played Oakland.
                - Elon won the only game the two schools have ever played, 10-2, in five innings back in 2005, at the BCC Spring Break Classic in Daytona, Fla.
                - The Rams defeated Georgia Southern, 7-1, in 2006, at the Gamecock Invitational.
 
Fordham Quick Facts
You can find this season's full schedule, roster, and quick facts, plus last year's season statistics, all here.
 
Fordham Picked to Successfully Defend A-10 Title
The Rams received nine of 10 first-place votes in the preseason coaches' poll, it was announced. Fordham has won four straight conference tournament titles and five of the last six, plus three regular season championships in the past six years, as well.
 
The Rams return all eight position player starters, losing only starting pitcher/DP Rachel Gillen. Second Teamer Lauren Quense returns for her senior campaign to anchor a staff that will include three freshmen. The Rams have six newcomers, five freshmen and one sophomore transfer, and will have one more underclassmen this season than upperclassmen.
 
Welcoming New Faces
The program welcomed six new players to the Bronx this season: pitchers Madison Aughinbaugh, Taylor Stocks, and Stephanie Rundlett, infielders Skylar Johnston and Brielle Cerchio, and outfielder Deanna Burbridge. You can read about the first four signing their NLIs last winter here. Aughinbaugh and Rundlett were named their respective states' Players of the Year.
 
Up Next
The nonconference tournament schedule continues with next weekend's N.C. State Tournament in Raleigh. The Rams will face Lehigh and Rutgers on Friday, March 3, beginning at 10 a.m., and then the host Wildcats the following day at 12:15 p.m. Fordham will have two more contests that depend entirely on the results of the first three games.