Softball Kicks Off 2020 Campaign at Houston Invitational

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Tournament Central
Season Preview
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team embarks on its 2020 campaign, looking for an eighth consecutive Atlantic 10 championship, with this weekend's Houston Invitational. The Rams will play Valparaiso and UMass Lowell on Friday, February 7, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, then Valparaiso and the hosts at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively, on Saturday, and finishing up play against Northwestern State on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. All times are Eastern Standard.
 
Fans can follow along with every game via the live stats link above, while only the game against the Cougars will have a video stream, although it requires a subscription.
 
2018 Review
Fordham is coming off a seventh consecutive Atlantic 10 championship and ninth NCAA Regional appearance. The Rams finished with a 29-26 record, 16-6 in league play for a sixth regular season crown, and went to #2 Washington where they suffered slim two-run and one-run losses to the Huskies and Seattle, respectively. Senior Madie Aughinbaugh earned A-10 Pitcher of the Year honors, the fourth Ram to do so in the program's history, and Coach Inouye was named the conference's Coach of the Year. Aughinbaugh went on to win a second straight Most Outstanding Player award at the A-10 tournament. Sophomores Makenzie McGrath and Sarah Taffet were named to the All-Rookie team, as well. Aughinbaugh was recently named one of Softball America's Top 100 college players.
 
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.
 
Series Histories
The Rams have never played Houston, Northwestern State, or Valparaiso before. They have faced UMass-Lowell once, in 2018, at home, which the Rams won, 5-2. In that contest, the opening game of that year's home tournament, Madie Aughinbaugh went the distance in the circling, limiting the River Hawks to two runs, one earned, with no walks and five strikeouts, while delivering the go-ahead run in the first inning with a two-out RBI double to score Chelsea Skrepenak.
 
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 52 complete games to name just two. Check out the record book for the rest.  
 
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 further west next weekend for the Fresno State Kick-Off Classic. Fordham will play California, Fresno State (twice), Cal Poly, and Saint Mary's.