Durham, N.C. – The Fordham softball team dropped both of its Friday contests to begin play at the Duke Invitational, falling to Kent State, 14-5, in six innings, and the host Blue Devils, 5-1, at night. With the results, the Rams fall to 4-13 overall on the year.
The Rams took an early lead in each contest but fell behind an inning later in both, as well. Fordham plated three runs against Kent State in the first inning;
Madie Aughinbaugh drove home fellow captain
Brianna Pinto with a first-pitch single up the middle and then both
Aubree Barney and
Kelly Bright drove in a run with a bases loaded walk. The Golden Flashes responded quickly with a four spot in the second frame, all with two outs, with three singles and a double against
Devon Miller. The Rams retook the lead right away through
Julia Martine, the sophomore smacking a two-run home run, scoring Pinto, with nobody out. Aughinbaugh singled, stole second, and
Michaela Carter walked, but the two were left stranded. Kent State took the lead for good in the next half inning with two more two-out runs following an error in left by Bright.
Makenzie McGrath relieved Miller late in the third, worked out of trouble in the fourth, but surrendered eight runs, five earned, in the 1.1 frames after that.
Anne Marie Prentiss came on in relief and struck out the only two batters she faced in the sixth. The Rams struggled in the field in the contest, committing a season-high eight errors, and leaving 10 runners on base.
In the nightcap, after each team had gone down in order in the first inning, the Rams struck first in the second through freshman
Amanda Carey, who drove in Carter with a one-out double to right center, but was gunned down trying to stretch it into a triple. Duke struck back immediately, though, with a one-out two-run home run, by Jameson Kavel, which proved to be the difference in the contest.
Auginbaugh suffered her seventh loss of the year but went the distance, allowing five runs over six frames. She, Carey, Carter, Prentiss, and Bright all reached base once apiece against Duke. Against Kent State, Aughinbaugh, Bright, Carter, and Martine each recorded two hits apiece, with Bright also drawing a walk.
The Rams have just one game on Saturday, against Howard at noon.
