Softball at Duke Invitational this Weekend

Softball Schedule
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team (4-11) is back in action this weekend at the Duke Invitational after enjoying a week off. The Rams start off with a twinbill on Friday, taking on Kent State (7-8) at noon and then the Blue Devils (17-4) at 7:30 p.m., then will play a one-off against Howard (2-16) on Saturday at noon, and take on Lafayette (0-7) in a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. See the team's schedule page above for ways to watch on ACC Network Extra and follow along with live stats.
 
Last Time Out
The Rams started the Florida Gulf Coast Spring Break Classic with a pair of losses, to Southern Illinois and the hosts, on Friday, but rallied back with a pair of one-run wins over Harvard and UMass Lowell before downing Michigan State in the finale, 3-1. Madie Aughinbaugh starred for Fordham over the final two days, delivering the walk-off two-out RBI double to beat the Crimson, scoring Sarah Taffet, who had singled just before, and then matching her career-high of nine innings against the River Hawks while also scoring the winning run. Aughinbaugh struck out a season-high nine batters in the game, while Anne Marie Prentiss struck out a career-high six batters in the first game. On Sunday, the senior blasted a go-ahead two-run home run to erase a 1-0 deficit in the top of the fourth, coming on in relief of Devon Miller late to pick up her second save, while the latter earned her second victory.
 
Series Histories
Duke, Kent State – Fordham has never played either school.
 
Howard – The two schools have met just once before – with Fordham coming out on top, 8-6, in 2009 on neutral ground.  
 
Lafayette – Fordham leads the series, 9-7, since 1991, but have not played their former Patriot League rivals since 2004. The Rams hold a 6-1 all-time record on neutral fields against the Leopards.
 
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 after the opening week of the year 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 third all-time with 52 wins and 56 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 home opener and beginning of Atlantic 10 play draws ever closer but before then, the Rams will compete at next weekend's Charleston Cougar Classic, hosted by the College of Charleston. Fordham will alternate between playing the hosts and UNC Greensboro over three days, starting with a 6 p.m. meeting against Charleston on Friday, March 13. The Rams will remain in the south for two more days to play Charleston Southern in a doubleheader on March 17, as well.