BRONX, N.Y. – Returning to The Bronx for the 2025 home opener, Fordham University Softball hosts Hofstra Wednesday afternoon at the newly refurbished Bahoshy Field, with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
Stack 'Em Up
Fordham (7-13) began last week with a 10-2 thrashing of Iona in their first game in the Empire State this season, last Wednesday in New Rochelle. The Maroon and White then battled all weekend long at the Lakeside Book Company Tournament at James Madison, but went winless on the weekend, looking to snap a five-game skid heading into the midweek.
The Rams have tallied 39 runs over their last six games, after recording just 30 through the first 14 games of the season. Wednesday sees the Rams open a five-game homestand, and will mark the final non-conference tune-up for the Rams before Atlantic 10 play begins this weekend with a three-game set against Loyola Chicago Saturday and Sunday, before hosting Clemson next Wednesday, Mar. 19.
Leading the Lineup
Neleh Nogay has led the offense, scattering 25 hits through her first 20 games of the year, along with 14 runs scored and 14 stolen bases on 15 tries, both team high's as well.
Nogay is hitting .347 on the year, just ahead of Eva Koratsis, hitting .310 with 18 hits and 12 RBIs, tied for the team lead with Sydney Wells sits third on the team with 17 hits, part of a group of seven Rams with at least 10 hits apiece on the year.
Center Circle
The Rams pitching staff is led by Holly Beeman who has won each of her last three starts, claiming back-to-back A-10 Pitcher of the Week awards in the second and third week of the year.
Beeman holds a 4-2 record on the year with a 1.28 ERA, the best in the A-10, giving up just eight earned runs in 43.2 innings pitched, tossing six complete games in as many appearances, and is one of only two pitchers in the conference with multiple shutouts on the year.
New and Improved
The 2025 season will see a fresh look throughout the Bahoshy Softball Complex, with new turf installed in the outfield and surrounding the perimeter of the field, replacing the old dirt warning track and foul areas, providing faster drainage during inclement weather and allowing the Rams to return to the field much faster than before.
New Maroon padding will surround the outfield wall, including the high-fence in left field, with the batters facing directly towards the New York City skyline imprinted in each of the gaps.
"Fordham Softball" is featured prominently in all caps in straightaway center, with the left and right field walls showcasing the Rams past Atlantic 10 and NCAA tournament bids over the team's 41 year history, and a spot for future All-Americans to leave their name and legacy.
Both the Rams' batting cages and home and visiting bullpens also feature new turf throughout, with the visiting bullpen being moved much closer to the visiting dugout on the first base side.
Weekend Recap
Game 1: Taking an early 3-1 lead over Binghamton in game one Friday morning, the Maroon and White rallied for four runs in the fourth inning to break out to a seven-run lead. Countering with two runs in the fifth, the Bearcats were helped by a grand slam as part of a five-run bottom of the sixth to pull ahead 8-7 and steal the win.
Game 2: Pulling out to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run to start game two against Radford, the Highlanders tied things up in their first turn at bat, setting up a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way. Fordham tallied a run in the third, but saw Radford strike for three of their own immediately after to take a 5-3 lead. Evening things up with two runs in the fifth, the Rams sent the game to extras, before Radford walked things off in the bottom of the eighth on a fielder's choice with one out and the bases loaded.
Game 3: By the time the first out was recorded in game one, the Maroon and White saw 14 players come to the dish, rattling off nine runs on eight hits before James Madison had a turn at bat. The Dukes would however pull off some heroics of their own, scoring 12 in the bottom of the frame, in a first inning that lasted 55 minutes six outs were recorded. James Madison scored a pair of runs in the third, which the Rams answered with one each in the fourth and fifth, before the home side set the final tally with a single run in the bottom of the sixth.
Game 4: Binghamton broke out to a 9-1 lead in the early going Sunday, though Fordham kept themselves in the game until the sixth, where the Bearcats pulled ahead by 10 to win by run-rule.
Game 5: The Weekend finale saw Radford defend a 2-0 lead from the first inning on, before scoring four runs in the sixth to surge in front, limiting the Rams' rally to three runs in the bottom of the frame, before holding off the Maroon and White in the seventh to take the win by four.
Series History
In what will be the 21st meeting between Fordham and Hofstra, with the Pride leading the all-time series 13-8. Prior to falling in the most recent meeting, 7-6 last year in Hempstead, the Rams had won four straight games against the Pride, outscoring them 24-7 over those games. Fordham has also taken four of its last five games over Hofstra played at Bahoshy Field.
Non-Conference Offerings
Facing six opponents that reached an NCAA Regional last season, the 2025 calendar sees Fordham play 51 games against teams from 14 different conferences including the A-10, with 19 tournament games against 10 different opponents on the non-conference side of the schedule.
Fordham will also play five additional midweek non-league games throughout March and April, mixed into a nine-team, 26-game Atlantic 10 slate. Wednesday marks the first of those against Hofstra, ahead of games against Clemson (Mar. 19), at St. John's (Mar. 26), Stony Brook (Apr. 2), and LIU (Apr. 16).
Scouting the Pride
Seeking just their second win of the year, Hofstra enters the midweek 1-16 on the year, defeating Seton Hall on Feb. 28, 13-12 for their lone win of the year. Since then the Pride have lost five straight, falling in the weekend series to Elon in the CAA opener.
What's Next?
The Maroon and White host Loyola Chicago this weekend in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener at Bahoshy Field. Fordham and the Ramblers play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m., and a single game Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
