Seattle, Wash. – The Fordham softball team played #2/2 Washington tough behind a typically rock-solid pitching performance by
Madie Aughinbaugh and stellar defense but ultimately fell, 2-0, to the third overall seed on Friday night at Husky Stadium. With the loss, the Rams fall to 29-25 on the season and will Seattle in Saturday's first elimination contest at 8:30 p.m. ET.
"I thought we came out fearless and competed well today with good energy against one of the best teams in the country," Head coach
Melissa Inouye said, "Aughie and Molly did a good job keeping a dynamic offense to just one extra-base hit and used a good mix of pitches. Defensively, we made some good plays and gave ourselves a chance."
Aughinbaugh limited the Huskies to just two runs, one earned, on eight hits and two walks, with two strikeouts, over six frames, surpassing 500 career innings and 200 this year, the fifth and sixth Rams, respectively, to reach those milestones. She was outdueled by All-Conference and All-Region First Team honoree Gabbie Plain, who allowed five baserunners but struck out 14.
Chelsea Skrepenak walked to begin the contest and advanced to second but was left stranded, the last baserunner the visitors would have until the fourth inning. The Rams threatened twice more against Plain, starting with back-to-back walks by Aughinbaugh and
Maria Trivelpiece in the fourth, although she was able to escape the jam with a strikeout.
Jordy Storm and
Molly Roark notched Fordham's first hits of the night with back-to-back singles off Plain with one out in the sixth but again Plain was able to rebound and escape the threat.
Washington scored once in each of the first and third frames before Aughinbaugh and the defense kept the hosts off the board the rest of the way. Morganne Flores drove in Sis Bates in both instances, first with a sac fly and later with an RBI single. Among the defensive highlights for the Rams were a Roark caught stealing attempt by Kaija Gibson to end the first inning and a running catch by Storm to end the sixth while saving a run.
The Rams will play Seattle tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET and a win would mean playing again right away against the loser of the day's first game, between Washington and Mississippi State. A win in that game means the program's first Regional Final appearance since 2015. A loss in either contest on Saturday would end Fordham's season.
