Bronx, N.Y. – A day after throwing the program's seventh-ever perfect game, sophomore
Devon Miller duplicated the feat against La Salle, setting down 15 straight Explorers and striking out 12 en route to the eighth Fordham softball perfect game, becoming the second Ram to throw more than one, joining former two-time All-American and Fordham Hall of Famer Jen Mineau. The Rams took game one, 9-0, in five innings behind a second consecutive shutout from
Anne Marie Prentiss, and capped the four-game sweep with a 13-0 win in game two. Fordham's win streak has now reached 17 straight games as they improve to 20-3 on the year and 8-0 in Atlantic 10 play.
"Our offense continues to score early and often, which definitely allows our pitchers to stay loose yet throw aggressively and AP and Devon did just that. It was nice to see them both help themselves out at the plate, as well." Head coach
Melissa Inouye said, "What a special and rare team moment to be a part of two perfect games in the same weekend. Our hitters have put in the work and we've been consistent with our practice and process and it's so nice to see so many have success. Devon did a great job pounding and expanding the zone, staying confident, and Amanda was solid and in a great rhythm with her."
Miller posted an identical line to yesterday's, striking out 12 of 15 batters. While the sophomore drove in two runs with a single on Friday, Miller went 2-for-3 at the dish on Saturday with a two-run home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Prentiss allowed just four hits, three of them singles, while striking out five and walking none over her five scoreless innings, providing the game-ending blow with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Prentiss began game one with two swinging strikeouts in a 1-2-3 frame and the Rams plated three in the bottom half of the inning.
Sarah Taffet doubled in
Bailey Enoch and scored herself, along with
Julia Martine, on
Rachel Hubertus' double to left. Enoch powered a two-run jack to right, scoring
Michaela Carter, in the second to make it a five-run game and Carter made it seven runs with a RBI single in the third after Prentiss had led off with a double.
Bella Ayala started the fifth with a single, was pinch run for by
Gigi Speer, and Prentiss took the first pitch she saw over the left centerfield fence to walk off her second career shutout.
Game two's scoring started in the second with Miller providing her own go-ahead run, driving in Prentiss, who had doubled again with two outs. The Rams continued to stretch their rally and plated two more thanks to an error in the field by La Salle, 3-0. Moments after Miller struck out the side, Taffet smacked her sixth home run of the season to right to lead off the bottom of the third. The Rams scored eight runs in the frame, seventh with two outs, and featured four straight doubles at one point. Carter first drew a bases-loaded walk and then
Brianna Pinto, Enoch, Taffet, and Martine rattled off four straight doubles to make it an 11-run cushion. Miller hit her two-run bomb to score
Gianna Ranieri, who singled, to cap the scoring. Miller struck out the side swinging for emphasis.
Seven different Rams had at least one hit in game one and 11 different Rams had at least one knock in game two, including Ranieri and
Brielle Cerchio off the bench.
Prentiss moved to 3-0 and has lowered her ERA to a team-leading 1.67. Miller improved to 5-2 with a 1.69 ERA and has now struck out 73 over 41.1 innings, allowing just 18 hits and 39 total baseruners. At the plate, the Rams are collectively slashing .332/.425/.546 and have three Rams - Carter, Ayala, and Pinto - hitting over .400.
Fordham returns to action on Thursday afternoon, April 8, at Stony Brook at 3 p.m. before hosting St. Bonaventure for three games next weekend, although those contests will not be considered conference games.
