Newport News, Va. – The six-time defending Atlantic 10 champion Fordham softball team has been predicted to finish in a tie for second place, alongside Dayton, by the league's head coaches in the annual preseason poll, it was announced Thursday afternoon. It is the first time in seven years the program hasn't been picked to top the standings.
"We're all excited for the 2019 season to start up next week," Head coach
Melissa Inouye said, "Our competitive preseason schedule will definitely help prepare us for conference play. I look forward to our team's journey this season."
Last year's runner-up Massachusetts garnered nine first-place votes to finish with 99 points, while the Rams and Flyers each had 80 votes. Saint Louis was picked to finish fourth, with 66 points, and both George Washington, who earned the final first-place vote, and George Mason earned 57 points. Rounding out the top-10 were Saint Joseph's (47), Rhode Island (27), La Salle (21), and St. Bonaventure (14).
The Rams finished the 2018 season with their sixth consecutive Atlantic 10 championship and seventh in the last eight years, plus a seventh straight trip to the NCAA Regionals. The squad fell just short of a third straight regular season crown but matched the program record for a third consecutive year with 18 conference victories.
Among those returning are First Team All-Conference and All-Academic selection
Chelsea Skrepenak and Second Team All-Conference and Third Team NFCA All-Region honoree
Madie Aughinbaugh. Skrepenak, a senior captain, paced the Rams offense with a .331/.395/.548 slash line, finishing with 52 hits, 41 runs, 33 RBI, 16 walks, 13 stolen bases, eight home runs, four doubles, and three triples, while providing stellar defense in center field. Aughinbaugh, a junior captain this year, made 35 appearances, including 26 starts, tallying a 16-8 record and 2.99 ERA, with 15 complete games, eight shutouts, a save, and 98 strikeouts over 157.0 innings, while slashing .247/.289/.353 at the plate with three home runs, seven doubles, and 11 stolen bases.
Also returning are senior starters
Deanna Burbridge,
Kylie Michael,
Jordy Storm, and
Maria Trivelpiece, plus sophomore
Brianna Pinto, a late-season Rookie of the Week selection.
Madi Shaw, a yearly All-Conference and All-Region selection, and
Lauren Quense, the 2017 A-10 Co-Pitcher of the Year, graduated in May, while underclassmen
Paige Rauch, last year's conference Rookie of the Year, and Skyler Johnston, a 2017 First Teamer, are also among those who departed in the offseason.
Inouye, a 2012 assistant coach under outgoing head coach
Bridget Orchard, returns to the Bronx to helm the program after six seasons at nearby Iona College, being named MAAC Coach of the Year on two occasions during that span. Orchard spent 17 seasons with the Rams, turning the program around and leading them to seven conference titles, all in the last eight years.
Fordham begins its 2019 campaign with the Ragin' Cajun Classic, starting with the hosts, #15/18 Louisiana, next Thursday night at 6 p.m. The Rams will play Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Incarnate Word, and RV/RV California over the next two days, as well.
