Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team suffered its first three-game home series sweep since 2002 as Massachusetts came from behind to secure a 5-3 victory on Sunday afternoon at Bahoshy Field. In front of a large and loud crowd supporting both teams, the Minutewomen rallied with five runs in an action packed fifth inning to erase a 3-0 deficit, the only frame that
Madie Aughinbaugh allowed a run in during her 12
th complete game of the year. With the loss, the Rams fall to 27-20 overall and 15-4 in Atlantic 10 play, while Massachusetts improves to 31-12 and 19-0, respectively.
Aughinbaugh returned from a two-game absence to make the start, keeping the visitors off the board for the first four frames and six of seven on the day. The Minutewomen put one runner on in the first, second, and fourth innings via singles and loaded the bases in the third but Aughinbaugh worked out of trouble. During that time, the Rams scored three to take their second lead of the weekend.
Fordham got off to a quick start, plating two unusual runs in the first inning.
Chelsea Skrepenak worked a long at bat and walked and raced around to third on an error by Melissa Garcia at first on a grounder by
Skylar Johnston.
Madi Shaw was intentionally walked but the fourth pitch from Meg Colleran went wide of Madison Gimpl behind the plate and Skrepenak was able to score.
Lauren Quense walked to load the bases and
Kylie Michael delivered an RBI single to score Johnston.
The Rams had several more chances in the second and third, putting a runner in scoring position with nobody out in the former and loaded the bases with two outs and then seeing a leadoff single by Quense, who advanced to second, prove fruitless in the latter. The hosts did break through for a third run, however, in the third inning with a two-out rally. Johnston singled, Shaw walked, and Burbridge reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Quense walked on five pitches to bring the run in but that was all Fordham would get.
Moments later, Jena Cozza led the fifth inning off with a solo home run to begin UMass' rally. Erin Stacevicz next reached on a bunt single and Kaycee Carbone attempted to bunt her over but Aughinbaugh's throw to first sailed high and went so far that Stacevicz raced around the bases to score. Carbone beat a throw to second by Johnston on Melissa Garcia's grounder and singles by Madison Gimpl and Amy Smith followed to load the bases, the latter driving in a run. Aughinbaugh got the first out on a foul out to
Deanna Burbridge but the sophomore walked Hannah Bunker before Riley Gregoire's sac fly plated the final run. Cozza was intentionally walked and the inning ended on Stacevicz's groundout.
Kiara Oliver came on in relief of Meg Colleran and allowed just a walk to Shaw in three otherwise perfect frames to pick up the save.
Shaw's four walks on the day tied the single-game program record set by
Elise Fortier against Detroit Mercy in 2013. The senior led the way offensively for the Rams this weekend, slashing .400/.700/1.600 and leading the team with two home runs, three runs batted in, and five total walks. Burbridge led the way with four hits and both Johnston and Skrepenak scored three times each.
The Rams have just four games remaining in the regular season. They'll wrap up nonconference play with a one-off at St. John's on Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. before welcoming La Salle to the Bronx for a three-game series next weekend.
Before the game, junior
Chelsea Skrepenak was sworn into the United States Army. Cadet Skrepenak has been a member of the Fordham ROTC for the past two years and upon graduation will commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Skrepenak (center) took the ceremonial oath of office for the United States Army prior to first pitch on Sunday
