COLUMBIA, S.C. – Tallying a pair of runs in their first turn at the dish Friday afternoon, that would be all Holly Beeman and the Rams defense needed as Fordham University Softball defeated UNLV, 2-1 to open the Garnet and Black Invitational, hosted by South Carolina.

Beeman went the full length of the game in the circle for the fifth time in five starts to open the year, as the defending A-10 Pitcher of the Week allowed just one run on six hits, en route to her third win in her last four outings.

The Rams put their first three runners on base in the bottom of the first inning, with Sydney Wells knocking a single to right field to plate Neleh Nogay, ahead of an RBI groundout by Eva Koratsis to double the lead and put the Rams in front, 2-0.

A fairly quiet game offensively the rest of the way, the Maroon and White allowed a single run to score in the fifth, but would keep the Rebels at bay the rest of the way, handing UNLV just its fourth loss of the year, while the Rams improve to 5-6 on the year, playing their ninth game already this season decided by three runs or less.

Fordham is set for a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon, taking on the No. 24/21 Gamecocks at 3:30 p.m. ahead of a second meeting with UNLV at 6:00 p.m. Game one against South Carolina will air on SEC Network+ which can be accessed through ESPN+ and the ESPN App.