SAN MARCOS, TEXAS – Splitting the opening day of action in South Texas, Fordham University softball bounced back from a 5-4 setback to Stephen F. Austin in eight innings, to claim a 4-2 win over New Mexico in the second game of the day.
Holly Beeman went the distance for her third straight game, this time pitching into the eighth, giving up just three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out four. Getting the ball to start against game two, Emilee Watkins gave up five hits and a pair of runs in just over five innings pitched, before Victoria Klimaszewski notched the final six outs against New Mexico for her first collegiate save.
Scattering four hits and stealing three bases across the day, Neleh Nogay tallied three hits in game one along with a pair of stolen bases, an RBI, and a run scored. Mikayla Swan stole a bag in each game Friday, while totaling three hits, and came around to scoring twice in the win over the Lobos.
Game One (8 innings): Stephen F. Austin - 5R, 7H, 3E, Fordham - 4R, 10H, 2E
After a quiet first three innings, Annie Sullivan came in to score in the top of the fourth on a two-base error on a drive to left by Erin Hoppe to put the Rams in front. Sophie Nesturrick brought Hoppe home on the next at-bat, driving in her first collegiate RBI to give the Maroon and White a 2-0 lead.
Stephen F. Austin countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, and one more in the fifth to pull ahead 4-2. Down to their final two outs with a runner on the top of the seventh, a Nogay single brought in pinch hitter Morgan Volgraf from second to get Fordham within one. The Rams then added a hit and a walk to load the bases, ahead of a sac fly by Eva Koratsis to tie the game at four.
Beeman shut down the Lumberjacks in the seventh, before SFA drove in the extra inning runner from second on a pair of sacrifices in the eighth to take the game, 5-4.
Game Two: Fordham - 4R, 6H, 0E, New Mexico - 2R, 5H, 2E
Another scoreless game through the first two frames, Fordham broke through in the third, loading the bases with a pair of singles and a hit by pitch to set up a two-run double by Eva Koratsis to put her side in front.
The Lobos tacked on a single run in their next turn at the dish to cut the lead in half, before another threat by the Rams a short while later. After a walk and a pair of hit-by-pitches loaded the bases with nobody out, a second walk to Nicki Sudall forced in a run, ahead of a dropped fly ball to first base brought home Sullivan to extend a 4-1 lead.
Watkins tossed a one run game into the sixth, before handing the ball over to Klimaszewski, who entered with two runners on in the sixth inning, getting the final six outs without allowing a run for her first career save.
On Deck
The Maroon and White play day two of the Bobcat Tournament tomorrow, taking on Stephen F. Austin at 11:00 a.m. EST, ahead of a meeting with the hosts, Texas State at 3:30 p.m. EST.
