Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader, Honor Six Seniors

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Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham offense took a little bit to get going, falling 6-0, in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with Saint Joseph's, but rebounded with a resounding 7-1 win in game two to split the twinbill. With the results, the Rams move to 36-7 overall and 17-2 in Atlantic 10 play, while the Hawks move to 25-18 and 18-3, respectively.
 
Devon Miller and Saige Stutz traded scoreless frames to begin the opening contest with each team putting at least one runner on in both of the first two innings but it was the visitors to break through first, doing so in the third with four runs. A walk, single, and hit by pitch led the bases to begin the frame and Caela Abadie singled up the middle for two and, later, when Bailey Enoch came on in relief, Jordan Hinkle and Payton Baxter both were able to reach on softly hit balls to second base where no play was available. Enoch was impressive in relief, allowing just two runs, one earned, in the sixth on a pair of two-out RBI singles, striking out three and allowing just two other singles aside from the aforementioned four hits over five innings, although Miller was saddled with just her third loss of the season. Sarah Taffet drew a pair of walks, Bella Ayala and Miller each drew one, and Madie Aughinbaugh, Julia Martine, and Brianna Pinto each singled once.
 
Between contests, the Rams' six-player Class of 2021 was honored in front of well over 100 spectators – Aubree Barney, Kelly Bright, Rachel Hubertus, Brianna Pinto, Anne Marie Prentiss, and Gianna Ranieri.
 
The Rams shuffled around their lineup for game three of the series, including all six seniors and moving several players around. The offense wasted no time in getting on the board for the first time in the series, plating a pair of runs in the opening frame on Prentiss' two-run single down the leftfield line. Prentiss was spectacular in the circle improving to 7-0 this season with just one run allowed on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts over seven innings. The Hawks responded with their lone run in the fourth, an Abadie solo home run to start the frame, though Prentiss shut down the following three batters. In the bottom half of the inning, the Rams loaded the bases with no outs but were only able to plate one run on a fielder's choice.
 
Against Emily Siler in relief, the Rams tacked on the remaining four runs in the fifth, all with one out. Prentiss walked and Taffet reached on a fielder's choice. Ranieri smoked a single through the left side to load the bases and Barney, with a walk, and Pinto, hit by a pitch, drew in the first two runs. Enoch then scorched a double over the head of the left fielder to plate two more before Stutz returned for the second time on the day to escape further damage.
 
Enoch and Ranieri each notched a pair of hits, while Aughinbaugh, Prentiss, Barney each reached twice safely via singles and walks.
 
With George Washington winning both contests at St. Bonaventure today, the Colonials need just one win in tomorrow's doubleheader to clinch the regular season title and first overall seed. However, with two losses and a Fordham win, the Rams would win it. If it's George Washington, Fordham and Saint Joseph's will play to determine who will be the #2 and #3 seeds in next weekend's Atlantic 10 Championship.