Bronx, N.Y. – (March 25, 2023) – St. Bonaventure's Emily Phelan allowed three runs and struck out seven, while Emily Piergustavo drove in two runs, as the Bonnies edged the Fordham Rams, 5-3, in Atlantic 10 softball action on Saturday at Bahoshy Field.
St. Bonaventure (5-13, 1-3 A10) opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on an RBI-single by Elyse Graham, scoring pinch runner Olivia Whitecar from second.
The Bonnies then took advantage of a pair of Fordham miscues in the fourth inning, extending their lead to 5-0. With the bases loaded and one out, Brooke Bobbey hit a ground ball to second, that Fordham
Sarah Taffet threw home to try for the force out. However, the ball popped in and out of the glove of
Amanda Carey, allowing a run to score. One out later, Emily Piergustavo connected on a two-run single through the right side. The throw from the outfield was a touch off, which allowed a third run to score on the play.
Fordham clawed their way back into the game in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring twice in the fifth and once in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-3. The Rams loaded the bases in the fifth, getting the first run on a wild pitch, while
Julia Martine scored on a sacrifice fly by
Sydney Wells. Then in the sixth,
Michaela Carter drove in pinch runner
Mallory McClellan with a ground out.
The Rams would get the tying run to the plate in the seventh, following a leadoff double by
Bailey Enoch. Fordham though could not score, as Bonnies' pitcher Emily Phelan recorded the final three outs on a ground out and two popouts.
Enoch (3-4) took the loss for Fordham, allowing one earned run on seven hits over six innings of work, while
Holly Beeman pitched the final three outs in relief. At the plate, Carter was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while
Amanda Carey and
Neleh Nogay each had two hits.
The same two teams will conclude their series on Sunday with a noon doubleheader.
