St. Louis, Mo. -- The Fordham softball team started off hot, fell behind, and rallied late to secure its 12th straight win, 8-5, to complete the weekend series sweep at Saint Louis on Sunday. With the win, the Rams improve to 27-17 on the year and 15-1 in Atlantic 10 action, while the Billikens fall to 22-23 and 7-8, respectively.
Reigning A-10 Rookie of the Week
Paige Rauch launched her third solo home run in the past seven days to begin the day and, after Sklyar Johnston singled,
Madi Shaw followed that up with a two-run shot to put the visitors on the board, 3-0, in the early going.
Lauren Quense made the start and struggled over her three innings, allowing a pair of runs to score in the first frame on a bases-loaded two-run single and then giving up a three-run home run to Sadie Wise, one of the NFCA Freshman of the Year candidates along with Rauch. The graduate hurler tossed a clean third inning before giving way to Rauch.
Rauch was terrific in relief, allowing just three hits and a walk over four scoreless frames of relief to secure her 13th win of the season and lower her ERA to 1.27. Fordham threatened in the third when Rauch led off with a single, stole second, and got to third with two outs but was left stranded. The visitors got within one with a clutch two-out RBI single with the bases loaded by
Chelsea Skrepenak, and went ahead an inning later on a
Jordy Storm pinch-hit two-run double to center. Johnston, Shaw, and
Kylie Michael led off the frame with singles and Storm laced her double to deep center two batters later.
The Rams tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh on a
Brianna Pinto two-out, two-run single, scoring Quense, who was hit by a pitch, and Storm, who doubled again.
Rauch and Shaw each notched a pair of hits and walked once, while Johnston and Storm each enjoyed multi-hit performances.
The Rams are back in action on Wednesday when they host Delaware in nonconference action. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
