Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham softball team suffered its first Atlantic 10 loss of the season on Friday, falling to Saint Joseph's, 10-0, in six innings in the opening game of this weekend's four-game series. With the loss, the Rams fall to 35-6 overall and 16-1 in league action, while the Hawks improve to 24-17 and 17-2, respectively.
With families, friends, and other student-athletes in attendance for the first time since 2019, the Rams honored graduate students
Madie Aughinbaugh and
Brielle Cerchio in a pregame ceremony. Both got the start, Aughinbaugh in the circle and Cerchio at third base. It wasn't to be Fordham's day at the plate, with multiple hard-hit balls directly at Saint Joseph's players and also a three-hit shutout performance by Hawks starter Amanda Herr.
Through two frames, only one batter had reached base against either starter when
Bailey Enoch reached on an error in the first. The Hawks broke through in the third with three singles and a double, plating three runs.
Brianna Pinto produced the Rams' first hit of the afternoon, singling up the middle and promptly stealing her 28
th base of the y ear, but the senior was left stranded at third. Fordham threatened again in the fifth when
Sarah Taffet doubled down the right field line and Pinto singled to left, advancing to second on the throw to the infield with Taffet possibly moving home. Aughinbaugh smacked the first pitch she saw but it was a direct line drive at centerfielder Nicole Bondoc.
The Hawks broke out with seven runs in the sixth on seven hits and two errors to enact the run rule and the Rams went down in order in the bottom of the frame to finish the game.
Pinto led the way with a 2-for-2 day at the plate, increasing her batting average to .438 on the year. Taffet had the lone other hit for the Rams. Aughinbaugh allowed no walks and struck out six but took just her second loss of the year.
The Rams and Hawks continue their four-game series with tomorrow's doubleheader beginning at noon on ESPN+. Between contests, six members of the Class of 2021 will be honored – Aubree Barnee,
Kelly Bright,
Rachel Hubertus,
Brianna Pinto,
Anne Marie Prentiss, and
Gianna Ranieri.
