Softball Returns to the East Coast for Spring Break Classic at Florida Gulf Coast

Softball Schedule
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team (1-9) returns to the east coast for this weekend's Florida Gulf Coast Spring Break Classic with five games over three days. The Rams will open up with a Friday doubleheader against Southern Illinois at 4:45 p.m. and the hosts at 7 p.m., followed by Harvard and UMass Lowell on Saturday at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Play will wrap up on Sunday against Michigan State at 11:15 a.m.
 
See the softball team schedule page via the link above for ways to follow along with the action. FGCU will stream all of their contests and Michigan State will be doing a Facebook Live stream for their non-televised games. All five games will have live stats, though.
 
Last Time Out
The Rams struggled at last weekend's Fresno State Kick-Off Classic, falling in all five games. Sophomore Sarah Taffet continued her solid start to the season, however, by batting a team-high .500 with seven hits, two triples, three RBI, and two runs scored, with a hit in four of five games and three multi-hit performances. She is up to a team-best .353 and seven RBI on the year thus far.
 
Series Histories
Southern Illinois – The Salukis hold a 4-1 all-time series lead over the Rams, though the latter picked up their first victory in the most recent meeting, 8-7, in 2014 on a neutral field.
 
Florida Gulf Coast – Fordham has won both of the previous meetings against the Eagles, 6-5 in 2010 and 11-1 in five innings in 2015. Both games came on neutral ground.
 
Harvard – The Crimson are undefeated in four previous meetings with the Rams, though the two schools have not played each other in nearly 30 years. Most recently, Harvard swept a doubleheader in 1993 by a combined 13-9 score.
 
UMass Lowell – This will be the third time the two schools have met and the second time this year already. Fordham won the first contest, 5-2, at home two years ago, but fell, 9-8, in the second game of this season in Houston. Read more about that contest here.
 
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 last week following her explosive debut down in Houston. Read more about it here.
 
100 Emoji
Aughinbaugh was 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 will take a weekend off before traveling down to Durham, N.C. for the Duke Invitational. Fordham will open with games against Kent State and the host Blue Devils on Friday, March 6, at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, play a one-off against Howard on Saturday at noon and then a doubleheader with Lafayette on Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. a