Softball Falls to #21/24 Utah, Team Japan in Exhibition

Utah Box Score

Palm Springs, Calif. – The Fordham softball team faced another nationally ranked squad during its first weekend of the 2018 campaign, this time a rematch against NCAA Regional host #21/24 Utah, but fell, 7-2. Afterwards, the Rams took on the number one ranked country in the world, Team Japan, in an exhibition contest and, despite leading briefly early, were defeated, 13-3. With the loss to the Utes, the Rams fall to 0-4 on the year.
 
Utah got to Madie Aughinbaugh in the first inning via a one-out single and a RBI groundout after the baserunner, Barrera, was able to advance to third on an error by right fielder Paige Rauch. Rauch atoned for the error two innings later with a RBI single to tie the game up at one-apiece. Rachel Hubertus lined a one-out double to center and came around to score the run. Deanna Burbridge, making her first career start, followed Hubertus with a bunt single to put runners on the corner.
 
The tie didn't last long as the Utes put up four runs in the bottom half of the frame. Aughinbaugh induced a groundout to start but an error by Hubertus allowed Castaneda to reach. A single, double, and triple followed before Aughinbaugh got out of the jam with a couple outs. The Rams were able to tack on a second run in the top of the fourth as Jordy Storm, making her first start of the year at second, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Despite the Utes putting four runners on with no outs via two hit by pitches, a walk, and an error, the Rams went down in order with the bases loaded after the first run crossed.
 
Utah capped the scoring with two in the fifth, stringing together four straight one-out singles to plate one and, after a fielder's choice play at the plate, another RBI single. The Rams threatened with runners on second and third in the seventh with one out but failed to capitalize.
 
Five different Rams notched one hit, while Lauren Quense reached twice via a pair of walks. Aughinbaugh went the distance, allowing five earned runs of seven on nine hits with no walks and one strikeout. In addition to Burbridge, also making her first start was Kylie Michael behind the plate.
 
The Rams then took on Team Japan, a country that has been in the World Softball Championship game against the United States the last six times dating back to 2002, including two titles, and that is currently ranked number one in the world.
 
Paige Rauch got the start for Fordham and allowed four runs over three frames. Japan plated one in the first before the Rams took the lead on a three-run blast by Madi Shaw, although Japan answered with three runs of its own on two singles and a double in the bottom half of the third. The Rams were held off the board thereafter as Japan plated nine more runs over the ensuing innings.
 
Fordham takes on RV/RV Arkansas tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. EST in its final contest of the Mary Nutter Classic.