Softball Opens Conference Play By Hosting Rhode Island for Three-Game Series

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Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team (20-7) begins another Atlantic 10 title defense this weekend when the University of Rhode Island visits the Bronx for a three-game series. The two Rams will face off in a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. and a one-off series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Weather Update: Saturday's doubleheader has been moved up two hours due to inclement weather. First pitch of game one will now be at 10 a.m. rather than noon.
 
Last Time Out
Fordham scored one run apiece in the first and second innings but was shut down from there by Hofstra starter Sarah Cornell, allowing the Pride to rally with runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to claim a 3-2 victory. With Lauren Quense ruled out, Madison Aughinbaugh made the home-opening start. Amy Van Hoven got the Rams on the board with a solo blast, her first of the season, to straightaway center in the first, and provided run number two, as well, driving in Morgan Figueroa in the second with a single, after the junior had doubled down the left field line to start the inning. The Rams would go 1-for-9 over the next three innings, with the lone hit coming again off the bat of Van Hoven, who singled and stole second. Aughinbaugh was flawless through three before allowing a pair of singles and a RBI double in the fourth and an unearned run in the fifth after two errors, by Van Hoven and Jessica Hughes, with two outs. Taylor Stocks came on in relief on Aughinbaugh and allowed the go-ahead run on a double, sac bunt, and a wild pitch, but wouldn't allow another baserunner over the next two frames after that lead-off knock. Fordham threatened in the two final innings, loading the bases in the sixth and the first two batters on in the seventh, but failed to drive anyone in.
 
Rams Sweep Weekly A-10 Awards, Quense Earns Two Straight
For their efforts in the Florida Atlantic Tournament last weekend, Jessica Hughes took home her second Player of the Week award in the last two weeks, Quense earned her fourth and fifth Pitcher of the Week honors, and Stocks garnered her first Rookie recognition. You can read more about the sweep here, and Quense's lone award here.
 
Series History vs. Rhode Island
Fordham holds a 28-16 all-time advantage since 1996, the year Fordham joined the Atlantic 10. Rhody took the first seven contests in those early years and also enjoyed a stretch where they won seven of nine between 2001 and 2003, but Fordham has dominated since then, dropping just two contests, both at home in 2012, and otherwise winning the other 23 since the start of the 2004 season. Fordham is currently on a seven-game winning streak and swept Rhody last season in Kingston by a combined score of 37-9. Madison Shaw won her first A-10 Player of the Week award after that weekend, where she exploded for four home runs, seven RBI, five runs, two walks, and a stolen base in just nine trips to the plate.

Scouting Rhody
Rhode Island is off to a 2-15 start to its season but recently picked up a win over Providence, splitting a doubleheader this week. Offensively, the Rams are led by Kylie Shivery who has started all 17 contests and is batting .353 with a team-high six doubles and 18 total hits. Melanie Martire has provided the pop, with three home runs and a team-high nine runs scored while batting .294, but has played just 13 games. The Rams are hitting just .244 as a team with 35 walks compared to 107 strikeouts, and are not a threat to steal, with no thefts on two attempts. Rhode Island has six players that have made at least three appearances but Fordham will definitely at least see Sarah Gunderson and Becca Roger, who have made seven starts each. Gunderson's 6.08 ERA leads the way for the Rhody pitching staff but Rogers does boast one strikeout per inning.
 
Fordham Debuts at #35 in NCAA RPI
The Rams have received votes in the national USA Today/AP Coaches poll on two occasions this season and peaked at #30 in the poll after defeating #21 Baylor on opening weekend. They did not receive votes in the latest edition but the NCAA has them just outside the Top 25 in regards to RPI. You can check out the rankings here.
 
Quense Tosses 14^th No-Hitter in Program History
The senior hurler was lights out against Bryant on Sunday, February 19, 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. 
 
Keeping up with the Record Book
Amy Van Hoven and Sydney Canessa recently became the seventh and eighth Rams to reach the 200-hit club, the former now up to fourth with 226, the latter in sixth with 208. The duo is making steady progress up several other lists, as well. Quense's excellent start to her senior campaign has seen her jump up several spots in the all-time pitching ranks. Jessica Hughes and Madison Shaw have vaulted to the top or near the top of the all-time batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage lists, while Hughes continues to climb the stolen base ranks, currently fourth now with 51 after recently passing Ivy Pollock '05.
 
You can check out the record book, here.
 
Fordham Softball Archived Stories
It's been a very active first month for the Fordham softball team, including 12 weekly A-10 awards, a no-hitter, and a 20-7 record through five weeks. You can read all of the team's archived stories from this season and beyond, here.
 
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 last week. 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. Head coach Bridget Orchard has also announced five recruits for the class of 2021 that have recently signed their NLIs.
 
Up Next
The Rams play two more nonconference games next week, first at Seton Hall next Tuesday afternoon, and again the following day against Stony Brook at home. The games will begin at 4 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.