Softball at Fresno State Kick-Off Classic this Weekend

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Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team (1-4) is going cross country for its second preseason tournament, participating in this weekend's Fresno State Kick-Off Classic. The Rams will play the hosts (3-2) twice, plus California (3-2), Cal Poly (2-2), and St. Mary's (1-4). First up is California on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET and they'll also play the hosts a first time at 10:30 p.m. ET.
 
Fans can follow along with all the action this weekend via the links above. However, only Fordham's games against the Bulldogs will have a video and audio broadcast. Every game will have live stats, though.
 
Last Time Out
The Rams started the season with five games at last weekend's Houston Invitational. They lost three straight one-run contests to start the weekend but finished the trip with a win over Northwestern State. Freshman Amanda Carey enjoyed a terrific start to her Fordham career by leading the offense with a .500/.571/1.250 slash line with four extra-base hits, including two home runs, and a pair of walks. Newly minted junior captain Brianna Pinto batted .316 and shared the team-high of six hits, plus stealing five bases, while senior captain Madie Aughinbaugh scored a team-high five times, also stealing three bases. Gianna Ranieri drew a team-high four walks, as well. The offense, as a whole, went 12-of-12 on the basepaths. Freshman Devon Miller made her collegiate debut in the circle and picked up her first win of the year against the Demons in the finale, while Aughinbaugh notched the save, the fourth of her career, in the same game.
 
Series Histories
The Rams have never played Saint Mary's, but have faced the other three teams at least twice each. Fordham has played Fresno State twice, both on neutral fields, in 2009 and 2015. The Rams took the first meeting, 5-2, but fell in six innings, 8-0, five seasons ago. They have also played Cal Poly twice, in 2001 and 2014, with the Rams falling in both contests on neutral ground. Fordham has met California seven different times since 2001 and have yet to pick up a victory over the Golden Bears. Cal has been ranked in four of those meetings, including first overall in the country in 2012, and received votes in their most recent meeting, last year at the season-opening Ragin' Cajuns Classic. Rachel Hubertus was the lone current Ram to reach base in that contest, singling once. Aughinbaugh has pitched against Cal each of the last two years. In 2018, she went 2-for-3 at the dish with a pair of stolen bases.
 
Carey Named Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week
It was no surprise to see the freshman from Mentone, Calif. garner Rookie of the Week honors following her explosive debut last weekend. Read more about it here.
 
100 Emoji
Aughinbaugh was recently named one of Softball America's preseason Top 100 college players.
 
Program Ranks
Senior Madie Aughinbaugh is the lone Ram in the school record book after the graduation of several seniors. Aughinbaugh is featured in nearly every pitching category in program history and is fast approaching the top of each one. She is currently joint-third all-time with 51 wins and third with 53 complete games to name just two. Check out the record book for the rest.  
 
Welcoming Five New Faces
Coach Inouye announced a five-player recruiting class for the 2020 season, including one JuCo transfer, Aubree Barney, and four true freshman for the Class of 2023 – Amanda Carey, Michaela Carter, Katelyn Vara, and Devon Miller. Read more on the class here.
 
Fordham Predicted in Tie for First in Annual Preseason Coaches Poll
In an ironic twist after last year's co-championship, the league's head coaches ended up predicting another tie between the Rams and Colonials, each garnering 89 total votes. The latter gained five first-place votes, the former three. Read more here.
 
Up Next
The Rams head south for the Florida Gulf Coast Spring Break Classic on February 21-23. In addition to the hosts, Fordham will play Southern Illinois, Harvard, UMass Lowell, and Michigan State.