Macon, Ga. -- The Fordham softball team finished its preseason tournament schedule with an 11-3 six-inning loss to Ball State on Sunday morning. With the loss, the Rams wrap up the weekend with an 1-3 record and a 7-15 record to-date.
The Cardinal's got revenge for Friday's loss, scoring two runs in the first inning off
Gianna Ranieri, making her first career start, and the go-ahead run on a two-run shot in the fifth inning, eventually pushing their total to 11 to end the game early. The Rams threatened in the bottom-half of the first when
Jordy Storm walked and
Maria Trivelpiece singled, both moving over a base on a wild pitch, with one out, but the pair were left stranded following two strikeouts. After Ball State tacked on a third run in the second on a RBI single, the Rams struck for two runs on a solo shot from
Molly Roark and a RBI single by
Chelsea Skrepenak, scoring
Sarah Taffet, who had walked and stolen second base.
After a clean third frame, the Cardinals struck for two runs in each of the next two frames off Ranieri and four in the sixth with two home runs.
Makenzie McGrath came on in relief to strike out her lone batter and get out of the inning.
Madie Aughinbaugh capped the game's scoring with a solo home run but the Rams were unable to fend off the run rule.
Five different Rams notched one hit apiece, with Taffet reaching once more with a walk. Ranieri suffered her first loss but punched out a career-high six batters.
Fordham will travel to play at Stony Brook on Tuesday at 1 p.m. before beginning Atlantic 10 play at George Washington next weekend for a three-game series starting with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m.
