Philadelphia, Pa. – Fordham softball split a Wednesday doubleheader at Saint Joseph's, winning a wild game one, 3-2, but falling, 8-5, in game two. With the results, the Rams move to 14-24 overall and 5-9 in Atlantic 10 play.
Game one was truly back-and-forth as both teams scored in the fourth and sixth innings, Fordham going first to take a one-run lead only to be answered by the hosts in the bottom-half. After three scoreless innings, the Rams went ahead on an odd play; with the bases loaded and two outs,
Sarah Taffet struck out swinging, the ball bouncing off the plate. However, catcher Payton Baxter, tossed the ball back into the circle instead of tagging Taffet out, allowing
Bailey Enoch, who had doubled and moved over to third, to score. Saint Joseph's responded with Hailey Malito's two-out RBI infield single, though
Kate McGuire nearly prevented it with a diving stop and throw to third attempting the force out.
Bella Ayala's sixth-inning RBI groundout, scoring
Julia Martine, who had led off with a single, was answered by Kaelin Cash's solo home run. The Rams went ahead for good through starting pitcher Enoch, who gave herself the win with a booming double to the left centerfield gap to score
Michaela Carter, who had led off the frame with a roped double down the left field line. The Hawks nearly rallied a third time but Enoch buckled down to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a fielder's choice and a strikeout looking of Cash to end the game.
After taking a brief 1-0 lead through
Sydney Wells' two-out RBI double in the first inning of game two, the Rams fell into a 6-1 hole that they were unable to climb out of, despite Wells' efforts later on. Saint Joseph's plated two runs with back-to-back solo home runs from Cash and Jessica Gaughan and then four more runs on three singles and two walks in the second.
Fordham struck back for three runs in the third, all coming off the bat of Wells on a no-doubt three-run shot to right. An inning later and
Amanda Carey cut the deficit to just one with an opposite-field solo shot. Starter
Devon Miller settled down after that until the sixth when she allowed a single and double with one out. Enoch came on in relief but allowed the runners to score on Kayla Tauber's single to center and the Hawks held on for the win.
Carter led the way with four hits over six at-bats plus two walks and two runs scored. Seven different Rams recorded at least one hit on the day. Enoch picked up her fourth win of the year and went the distance, striking out four, while Miller suffered her eighth loss while striking out five.
Fordham finally returns to the Bronx this weekend for three games against Massachusetts. Saturday's doubleheader, on MSG Networks and ESPN3, and Sunday's finale, on MSG Networks and ESPN+, both begin at noon.
