Baton Rouge, La. – 3:30 p.m. CT was the scheduled time for first pitch of the Fordham softball team's NCAA Regional opener against the hosts, #11 LSU, but a four-hour lightning delay in the second inning of the day's first game led to first pitch of game two coming at 10:02 p.m. The Tigers took an early lead and held on for a five-inning 9-0 victory to push Fordham into the consolation bracket tomorrow. With the loss, the Rams fall to 33-22 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 42-14.
The Fordham defense committed five errors under the lights, the second-most this campaign; the Rams committed six in a win over Drake in late February. The Tigers tallied seven hits and stole eight bases to score at least one run in their four frames.
In what would serve as a precursor for the game, the Tigers plated their first run with two outs in the first on a throwing error.
Madie Aughinbaugh, making her fourth consecutive start and first since earning Most Outstanding Player at the A-10 Championship last week, allowed a leadoff infield single to Aliyah Andrews, who stole second and moved to third on a sac bunt. Aughinbaugh was able to induce a pop-out to
Kylie Michael at the plate and a groundout but
Paige Rauch's throw short-hopped
Lauren Quense at first, allowing Andrews to score. Aughinbaugh got out of the two-on jam with a groundout.
The Rams threatened with two baserunners in two consecutive innings, starting with the second, each with two outs. Quense drew a walk after working a long at-bat and
Maria Trivelpiece looped a single to left field but were left stranded, while in the third, both
Madi Shaw and Rauch walked.
LSU added five runs in the second on four hits and an error, one in the third, and two in the fourth to enact the run rule.
Trivelpiece singled again in the fourth inning, going 2-for-2 on the night, while the squad drew a total of four walks against the hosts. Aughinbaugh went three frames and allowed seven runs, five earned, on six hits and a pair of walks. Rauch allowed two unearned runs in one inning of relief.
The Rams will play #21 Louisiana-Lafayette tomorrow in game two, set for 3:30 p.m. EST and will need a win to stay alive. Should they win, they will face the loser of LSU and Houston right after. Two wins on Saturday would mean a further two wins needed on Sunday to secure the program's first-ever berth to the Super Regionals.
