Amherst, Mass. – The 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship between the top-seeded Fordham softball team and #3 George Washington has been canceled due to inclement rains and inclement weather. Therefore, according to league rules, the Rams and Colonials have been named this year's Co-Champions and, as the regular season champion, Fordham will represent the conference at next weekend's NCAA Regionals. It is the seventh straight conference title and NCAA berth for the program and eighth and ninth, respectively, overall in school history.
"This team is so resilient and played very good softball facing elimination the last few days in the tournament" Head coach
Melissa Inouye said, "It's really unfortunate the weather didn't allow us to decide a champion on the field, but our team battled through injuries all season and played hard for each other. This group of competitive and hard-working women are deserving of being Atlantic 10 champions. We're excited for another opportunity to compete in the NCAA Regionals."
Fordham fell in its opening contest, to #5 Saint Joseph's, on Thursday but ripped off three straight wins over the next two days to set up a winner-takes-all Final against George Washington on Sunday. The Rams defeated #2 Massachusetts on Friday in the day's first elimination game and got revenge over the Hawks on Saturday morning to reach the championship game. George Washington scored two runs in the first inning to lead early but
Madie Aughinbaugh and the Rams heled them off the board the rest of the way in an eventual 5-2 win to set up one final meeting. However, field conditions were deemed unplayable and the game was canceled. Unfortunately, there is no policy to allow for the game to be made up following the announcement of the NCAA field during Sunday night's selection show, which will be live at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
Aughinbaugh was unanimously selected as the Championship's Most Outstanding Player by leading the tournament in both pitching and hitting. It is the second straight year she's earned the honor. Aughinbaugh started all four contests for the Rams and went the distance in all four, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.07 ERA. At the plate, the Port Tobacco, Md. native enjoyed a .692/.714/1.000 slash line with a tournament-high nine hits, driving in five, scoring twice, and record one home run, double, walk, and stolen base.
Three other Rams were named to the All-Championship team:
Chelsea Skrepenak,
Molly Roark, and
Jordy Storm. Skrepenak, who was also an All-Tournament member a year ago, finished with nine runs, four more than anyone else, eight hits, and three stolen bases. Roark slashed .462/.600/1.154 and led the Championship with three doubles, two home runs, and seven RBIs. Storm finished tied for second with five RBIs, as well, and hit .333 overall. Roark's two-run home run broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning against George Washington, while Storm's two-run triple ended up being the go-ahead play against Saint Joseph's.
This is a fourth straight NCAA berth for seniors
Kylie Michael, Skrepenak, Storm, and
Maria Trivelpiece. It is Coach Inouye and her staff's first at Fordham.
Fordham will learn its fate during ESPN2's Selection Show, beginning at 9 p.m. The Rams have played at nationally-ranked Oregon, Utah, and Louisiana the last three years.
Full A-10 All-Championship Team
Most Outstanding Player –
Madie Aughinbaugh (FOR)
Chelsea Skrepenak (FOR)
Molly Roark (FOR)
Jordy Storm (FOR)
Sierra Lange (GW)
Alessandra Ponce (GW)
Jenna Cone (GW)
Caela Abadie (SJU)
Sarah Ostaszewski (SJU)
Kaitlyn Stavinoha (UM)
Gabbie Kowalik (SLU)
