Kingston, R.I. —
Madie Aughinbaugh and
Paige Rauch combined for back-to-back one-hitters in the first two games of this weekend's three-game series at Rhode Island. Rauch also starred at the plate, beginning each game with a leadoff home run and hitting three on the day, while senior
Madi Shaw returned from a week-long absence with a grand slam. With the wins, Fordham improves to 22-17 on the season and 10-1 in Atlantic 10 play.
In the 40th Battle of the Rams, Fordham downed Rhode Island, 10-0 in five innings and 7-0 in game two. Rauch led the way at the plate with a 4-for-4 day with three home runs, a triple, four walks, five runs scored, and five runs driven in and tossed her second straight shutout of the season along with Aughinbaugh's fifth in game one. The Rams' other home runs came from
Molly Roark, Shaw, and
Chelsea Skrepenak.
Aughinbaugh allowed just one first-inning double but was otherwise perfect, recording her fifth shutout of the year,
tied for fifth-most in a single campaign. Rauch cracked her first of three on the day to start the day but Jess Rogers kept the rams pff the board otherwise until the fourth frame when Rauch smacked her second home run, a two-run shot, and runs followed on a
Skylar Johnston single and
Kylie Michael bases-loaded walk. A two-out error by Rhody led to the visitors ending game one early with five runs. Rauch tripled in Briana Pinto and both Skrepenak and Johnston walked to load the bases for Shaw, who ripped her ninth four-bagger of the year.
Rauch got the start in game two and again led off with a solo shot. From that point on, the freshman was intentionally walked, including in the third inning with Pinto on first. The duo each stole a base and the latter scored on a Skrepenak sac fly. Rauch was walked again in the fourth and this time Skrepenak blasted her fourth home run of the year for a four-run lead. The visitors plated three more in the sixth on a Roark solo shot, a Johnston walk, and an error.
The Rams play their series finale tomorrow at noon.
