Softball to Play Two Nonconference Games Tuesday and Wednesday

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Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team (23-7) began Atlantic 10 conference play with a three-game sweep of Rhode Island over the weekend, outscoring the visiting Rams, 34-0, with three consecutive five-inning run-rule victories. The team will now turn its attention to two midweek nonconference match-ups, hosting both Stony Brook (3-15) and Seton Hall (14-11-1) on Wednesday afternoon, March 29, beginning at 2 p.m.
 
Fans can follow along via the video broadcasts, with WFUV Sports 90.7 FM, or via the live stats. Links are above.   
 
Last Time Out
The Bronx Rams swept the Rhode Island Rams in convincing fashion, run-ruling Rhody three straight times over two days and outscoring them, 34-0. Three different pitchers, Lauren Quense, Madison Aughinbaugh, and Taylor Stocks, each threw complete game shutouts, while the offense exploded for a .426/.554/.820 slash line. Amy Van Hoven led the way with five hits in seven at bats, including a team-high six runs and five stolen bases, also walking three times and not striking out once. You can read all about the weekend here and here.
 
Van Hoven, Stocks Named Atlantic 10 Player, Pitcher of the Week
Fordham has garnered at least one weekly A-10 award in all seven weeks to start the year. This week, it was senior shortstop Amy Van Hoven and freshman Taylor Stocks, each earning the award for the first time this year. Read about their performances this past week here.
 
Series History vs. Seton Hall
The Pirates hold a slim 14-13 all-time series lead dating back to 1987. Seton Hall took the first seven games in the series, between 1987 and 1992, but the Rams have turned it around in recent years, winning 11 of the last 13 contests since 2005. The two teams last met in 2010 for Fordham's home opener, with the Rams sweeping the Pirates by a combined 11-0 score.
 
Series History vs. Stony Brook
This will be just the fourth time these two schools have met. Stony Brook is 2-1 over the past three meetings, with a doubleheader split on the road in 2003 and a 4-2 Seawolves victory in the Bronx in 2008.
 
NCAA Ranks
The Fordham softball team is enjoying one of its best statistical seasons through seven weeks of play and it is reflected in the Division I rankings. The Rams offense has been on a tear recently and has brought its team average up to .301 with this weekend's sweep of Rhode Island, ranked 61^st nationally. Fordham ranks 10^th in the country with an average of 6.67 runs scored per game, due to its high average, on-base percentage (.406 – 22^nd), slugging percentage (.497 – 24^th) , home run rate (1.07 – 19^th), and stolen base rate (1.77 – 37^th). Fordham has also been terrific in the circle, with the 40^th-best ERA nationwide (2.23) and a very steady defense behind them (.970 – 43^rd). The Rams rank first in the A-10 in all of the above.
 
Individually, Jessica Hughes and Madison Shaw tremendous seasons have placed them among Division I's elite. Hughes' .592 on-base percentage ranks sixth, while her .444 batting average ranks 38^th. Shaw's nine home runs are 18^th-most in the country and her 39 RBIs rank seventh. Hughes walks nearly once per game, currently at 0.96, which has her at ninth in DI. Lauren Quense' 0.86 mark is just behind at 16. Quense's four shutouts already have her tied with several others at 26 in the nation, as well.
 
Fordham Slips to 44th in latest NCAA RPI
The Rams opened the season ranked 35^th in the NCAA's RPI rankings but after a tight 3-2 midweek loss at home to Hofstra (55^th), and despite a comprehensive sweep of Rhode Island over the weekend, Fordham has dropped nine spots. Baylor, who the Rams defeated in the season opener, 1-0, is ranked eighth overall. The Rams have also defeated top-50 teams in Tulsa (32), Northwestern (37), and Florida Atlantic (45). You can check out the rankings here.
 
Leading Off
The Rams offense has been especially potent this season and a big part of that is leadoff hitters consistently reaching base. Jessica Hughes is one of the country's top leadoff hitters, with an absurd .688 batting average whenever she leads off an inning (22-for-32). She's not the only one, as Sydney Canessa (.526), Madison Shaw (.474), Amy Van Hoven (.375), and Lindsay Mayer (.318) all reach at an above average clip or better. As a team, Fordham leadoff hitters have a .395 batting average (73-for-185).

Situational Stats
Other reasons for the Rams offense being so successful this year is driving in runners in scoring position. As a team, Fordham is batting .326 (99-for-304) with a runner on second, third, or both, and .345 (19-for-55) with the bases loaded. Also, with a runner on third and less than two outs, the Rams bat .564 (57-for-101).

Patience is a Virtue
Through 30 games, the Rams are walking more times than striking out. The team has a 132/117 K/BB ratio and are on pace to easily pass the previous record for walks in a season, 190 in 2014.

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 231, the latter in sixth with 211. 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 and Van Hoven continue to climb the stolen base ranks, currently fourth and sixth, respectively, with 54 and 46.
 
The 2017 Softball team currently has the fourth-highest batting average (.301), third-best fielding percentage (.970), and the team's combined .497 slugging percentage is currently tops among all teams in program history!
 
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 host Saint Joseph's this weekend in a rematch of last year's A-10 Championship final. The three-game set kicks off with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.