COLUMBIA, S.C. – A pitchers duel in its finest form Sunday morning in South Carolina, the Rams and Terriers entered extra innings with zeros across the line score, and a combined just seven hits. A clutch base hit by Eva Koratsis in the top of the eighth broke that drought, plating the only run of the afternoon as Fordham University softball defeated Boston University 1-0 Sunday afternoon.
Sunday marked the seventh game decided by just one run or less through the first 14 games of the season, with Fordham improving to 6-8 on the year, going 2-2 at the Garnet and Black Invitational, hosted by No. 24/21 South Carolina..
Holly Beeman pitched another dominant game in the circle, going a full eight innings without allowing a run and giving up just five hits in the process. Over her last three starts, Beeman, the defending A-10 Pitcher of the Week, has now allowed just one run over 22 innings pitched, including a pair of shutouts over St. Thomas last weekend and today against Boston University.
Breaking through with a leadoff single in the top of the eighth by Allie Clark, Neleh Nogay reached on a fielder's choice, before the Fordham leadoff hitter stole second two pitches after reaching base to put the go-ahead run in scoring position.
A Koratsis bloop single down the right field line allowed the speedy Nogay to score just ahead of the throw to put Fordham in front.
Beeman came back out for the eighth, mowing down the Terriers in order with three straight lineouts in just eight pitches, to seal her fourth victory of the campaign in six appearances, including her sixth straight complete game.
After two trips to the Carolina's and a venture to South Texas over the last three weekends, the Rams will have next weekend off before playing their first game of the year in the Empire State, making the short trip over to Iona for a single game on Mar. 5 at 3:00 p.m. in New Rochelle.
