Newport News, Va. – The Atlantic 10 has announced its 2019 year-end awards and the Fordham softball team is well-represented. Head coach
Melissa Inouye was named the conference's Coach of the Year in her first season, while junior
Madie Aughinbaugh earned Pitcher of the Year recognition, the program's fourth student-athlete to do so, in addition to First Team recognition. Senior
Jordy Storm was also named to the First Team, while senior
Maria Trivelpiece earned Second Team and All-Academic honors. Freshmen
Makenzie McGrath and
Sarah Taffet were named to the All-Rookie squad.
Inouye took over for seven-time A-10 Coach of the Year
Bridget Orchard last year and has led the Rams to a 26-23 overall record and 16-6 mark in conference play in her first season at the helm. Fordham clinched its sixth regular season championship on Saturday against Rhode Island and will be the top seed at this week's Atlantic 10 Championship up at UMass. The Rams will play either #4 Dayton or #5 Saint Joseph's.
"I'm honored and humbled to get recognized by the other A-10 coaches," Inouye said, "However, this award is definitely a credit to the hard-working, gritty, and competitive team we have. Thanks also to my assistant coaches,
Matt Klampert and
Katie McEachern, Senior Woman Administrator
Djenane Paul, and our support staff of strength & conditioning coach
Joshua Greer, athletic trainer
Gretchen Klinkner, and our SID,
Ryan Uhlich, for all of their work this season."
A junior tri-captain, Aughinbaugh was masterful for much of the season, especially in league action, recording a 14-11 record and 2.61 ERA over 32 appearances and 27 starts. Aughinbaugh went the distance 19 times, recorded one shutout and two saves, and struck out 127 over 171.1 innings. In conference play, the Port Tobacco, Md. native was again terrific with an 11-2 record, 1.77 ERA, and 12 complete games in 15 starts, while striking out 62 over 91.0 frames. Aughinbaugh was also arguably the conference's top two-way player, as well, by slashing .338/.363/.469 with a team-high-tying 54 hits and nine doubles, plus the second-most RBIs, 35, to go with four home runs and 22 runs scored. In league play, she batted .368 with 28 hits, 17 RBIs, and nine runs scored. A starter in all 47 contests she was available for, Aughinbaugh committed just one error in the field and finished joint-second with 48 putouts. Previously, Aughinbaugh was an All-Rookie honoree and a Second Team selection a year ago, and this year has earned a Pitcher of the Week award and her first career Player of the Week honor.
"Aughie is a consistent and fierce competitor who wants the ball and I'm sure glad we don't have to face her. We're very happy to see all of her hard work and success get recognized."
Storm led the Rams overall with a .359/.424/.648 triple slash line, 10 home runs, 31 RBIs, 51 hits, and 33 runs scored over 45 appearances and 42 starts, but she truly shined in conference play, tying Player of the Year Jenna Cone with seven home runs and leading the league with 32 hits and 22 runs scored. She slashed .410/.446/.782 while leading the team with 14 extra-base hits and starting all 22 contests. The Walla Walla, Wash. earned one A-10 Player of the Week award, as well, during the season, her first career accolade.
Trivelpiece was right behind Storm on the year, starting all 49 contests and hitting .349 with 53 hits, 28 runs, and 28 RBIs, plus her first two career home runs. The Hazle Township, Pa. native finished with the second-most walks on the team, with 18, and walked more than she struck out, while playing excellent defense in right field, committing just two errors on the year, none in conference play, and finishing with a .978 fielding percentage. Trivelpiece hit .387 against league opponents with the second-most hits, 29, and third-most runs scored, 16. The senior also earned All-Academic honors by leading the team with a 3.73 cumulative GPA.
"We're very excited for Jordy and Maria to get recognized for their All-Conference honors as its truly fitting as they've made the most of their opportunities in their senior seasons."
McGrath began the year as a reliever but stepped into the rotation due to injuries and has upped her game when it's mattered most, working to a 5-2 record and 4.48 ERA over 10 league appearances, including three starts, which she's gone the distance in each time. Overall, the Dumont, N.J. native has a 10-4 record and 4.51 ERA over 27 appearances, six starts.
Taffet has been a mainstay at shortstop for the Rams, starting all 45 games she was available for, and slashing .242/.314/.347 with 23 hits, 14 runs, 11 RBIs, 10 walks, and a pair of stolen bases. In league play, batted .246 with 14 hits, eight walks, and seven runs.
"It's been fun to watch Sarah and Mak improve throughout the entire year. They have both really stepped up in key situations this year."
The top-seeded Rams await the results of the 4/5 game and will play either Dayton or Saint Joseph's on Thursday morning at 11 a.m.
