Brianna Pinto's Walk-Off Grand Slam Lifts Softball to 13th Straight Win

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Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team won its 13^th straight game in thrilling fashion – with a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning by senior Brianna Pinto, her first career home run, capping a thrilling game, 10-6, in the ninth inning. The Rams improve to 16-3 overall on the year with the win, while the Seawolves fall to 13-6.
 
"Wow. What an exciting ballgame against a quality opponent." Head coach Melissa Inouye said, "Bailey did a good job getting some innings in and feeding the defense and Mak with the bulldog mentality and a no-hit relief appearance. Offensively, we did a good job getting a lead, but unfortunately a few miscues gave Stony Brook an opportunity to get back into the game. I'm proud of our hitters for attacking and taking their swings against the toughest pitcher we've faced so far this season. It was only a matter of time before we strung something together as Bella started it off with a single, Amanda's hustle play, a wild pitch, Mic's intentional walk and Bebe zoning in on a pitch. So proud of this team and their competitive effort today."
 
Pinto picked the perfect time for her first career four-bagger, with the bases loaded and one out in her 114^th career game. The pitch, the first of the at-bat, came from Dawn Bodrug, who was named the Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week after a no-hitter last week, and went sailing into the netting above the left field fence. Bodrug had entered the game in the second inning in relief and allowed just two runs prior to the blast on four hits with 10 strikeouts. Makenzie McGrath had entered in relief in the fourth and tossed six hitless frames with just four walks allowed to pick up a hard-earned win, her second of the year.
 
Fordham wasted no time, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first. Rachel Hubertus ripped a double down the left field line to score Madie Aughinbaugh and Sarah Taffet to open the scoring and Bailey Enoch, with a groundout, and Amanda Carey with a single, brought in two others, both with two outs. The Seawolves got one back in the third on a two-out RBI single by Riley Craig. The fourth brought five runs for the visitors to take a 6-4 lead, coming on two hits, three errors, two walks, and a hit by pitch. Only the latter was an earned run, coming with the bases loaded, leading to a host of changes in the field by Coach Inouye. McGrath induced a groundout and a sac fly, both resulting in runs, to get two more outs before walking two batters, but induced Lindsey Osmer into a flyout to escape the jam.
 
The Rams cut the deficit in half in the fourth on an Enoch sac fly and tied the game up in the sixth, again with two outs. This time, Bella Ayala doubled in Julia Martine with a rope to deep right. Bodrug and McGrath traded two 1-2-3 innings before Stony Brook threatened in the ninth with a one-out walk, but McGrath struck out Julianna Sanzone and got Corinne Badger to fly out to Pinto in center. Ayala stepped up with a long single to right and moved to second on a fielding error in left by Sanzone, both advancing a few moments later on a wild pitch. Michaela Carter was then intentionally walked to load the bases with one out but Pinto drilled the first pitch she saw to end the game.
 
Martine led the way with a trio of hits and a trio of runs scored, plus a walk, while five Rams notched at least one RBI. Pinto's four RBIs are a new career-high. Just one of the six runs against Enoch was earned, with the freshman striking out two during her three-plus innings. McGrath also struck out two. Stony Brook left 11 runners on base, Fordham 10, while both teams drew six walks. The two schools combined for seven errors.
 
The Rams return to action this weekend against Atlantic 10 foe La Salle with doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. and noon, respectively. Friday's contests will be streamed live on ESPN+.