By ANTHONY PUCIK
The Rams are 3-1 in Atlantic 10 play and have the fewest losses in the conference. (DREW DIPANE/THE RAM)
Fordham had two more games at home this week, a doubleheader over the weekend against their Atlantic 10 rival George Mason Patriots. The Rams were able to split the double header with the Patriots, bringing their record to 19-16 on the season and 3-1 in A-10 play.
In the first game of the double header, the Rams got the scoring started in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by senior Elise Fortier off Patriots’ junior starter Anna Blessing to take the early 1-0 lead. But, Blessing settled down after that, holding the Rams scoreless for five innings.
After a crucial error by Fordham, George Mason tied the game in the top of the third on an RBI triple by senior Tiffany Webb off Fordham junior ace Michele Daubman. The Patriots then took the lead on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Casey Price and an RBI single by freshman Katherine Marsh to make it 3-1. Fordham was able to get a run in the bottom of the seventh on senior Gabby Luety’s RBI single, but they could not complete the comeback, as they fell to George Mason 3-2.
Both starters went the distance in this pitcher’s duel. Daubman, pitching only one bad inning in the third, picked up the loss for Fordham (10-9), while Blessing earned the victory for George Mason (3-4). The loss snapped Fordham’s six game win streak and marked the first Atlantic 10 and home loss of the season for the Rams.
“I felt Blessing did a great job, but I felt that the inconsistency of the strike zone hurt our hitters, as we let too may strikes go by and got behind in the count having to swing at pitches we didn’t like,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “The second game, we were more disciplined and controlled what we could control in our at bats.”
In the second game, George Mason wasted no time taking the lead. A two-run home run by Patriot junior Brooke Blankenship and an RBI single by senior Lauren McColgan off the Rams’ freshman starter Lauren Quense gave them the 3-0 lead.
Fordham showed its bat control early on, when it cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Fortier off George Mason sophomore starter Christina Gabrielle to make it 3-1 Patriots.
The Rams tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-RBI single by Luety, then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run by Fortier to make it 5-3. Fortier added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-RBI single, and Fordham was able to split the doubleheader with George Mason, winning 7-3.
After the first inning Quense really settled down, pitching the complete game and earning her fifth win of the season (5-4). Gabrielle was outdueled, and Fortier’s two-run homer made her the pitcher of record, giving her the loss (3-5).
Fortier had 5 RBIs in the game, as none of the Patriots were able to figure her out. She finished a triple away from the cycle in the second game of the doubleheader. “Elise is the heart and soul of this team, and we rely heavily on her to contribute offensively and defensively,” Orchard said. “She has a tremendous impact on our team.”
Orchard also praised both Daubman and Quense for their efforts in the doubleheader.
“I feel we have a lot of options to go to and it is always nice to have fresh arms ready to go each day,” Orchard said. “[Daubman, Quense, junior Rachel Gillen and sophomore Patti Maloney] have different styles so it is great to be able to match up against teams with a pitcher whose strength is the opponents’ weakness.”
The Rams were supposed to have a game between the St. John’s University Red Storm that was rescheduled to Tuesday, April 8 due to unplayable field conditions earlier in the year, but due to rain on Monday night the game was postponed once again. No makeup date has been announced yet.
After a long start to the season on the road, the Rams have had five straight games at home, something that Orchard says helps the team.
“It is great to play at home, we have had some great crowds and the student support is awesome,” Orchard said. “I feel we definitely have an advantage at home with the fans cheering us on, it makes the team step and play better. I can’t thank the Fordham students enough for the support.”
The season is in full swing, and there is no break for Fordham. The team is back at it again Wednesday, April 9 on the road against the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks at 3:30 p.m.
