Published: April 17, 2008

On a chilly April 8 afternoon, the Fordham University Rams women’s softball team swept the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights in a doubleheader at Bahoshy Field.

With 12 hits in game one and 17 in game two, Fordham improved to 17-19 on the year, while the Knights fell to 5-14.

The offensive explosion was made possible by right fielder Jocelyn Dearborn, FCRH ’11, who had seven RBIs in the doubleheader and smashed a home run in each of the games. Dearborn now leads the team in home runs with seven.

In the first game, the scoring started early with Dearborn driving in three runs in the first inning. After center fielder Melissa Andrews, CBA ’09, hit a one-out single and left fielder Mary Beth Puccio, FCRH ’09, walked, Dearborn stepped up to the plate. She smacked a two-run single and made it to third on the play, later scoring herself on an FDU error.

The Rams scored four more runs in the third inning, two of which came off of Dearborn’s first home run of the day, to extend their lead to 7-1. In the fourth, the Rams padded their lead with two more runs as a result of singles by Puccio and first baseman Jessica Weckenmen, CBA ’09.

Despite some sloppiness in the field (three errors), the Rams’ offense propelled the team to a 12-4 win in six innings, as a result of the conference’s mercy rule.

“Those two home runs were amazing,” added second baseman Megan Waldron, FCRH ’09. “Her hitting was just stellar.”

Allison Twarowski, FCRH ’08, pitched game one, going three innings and giving up just one run and one hit.

After winning nine out of their last 11 games, this club has plenty to be proud of.

“We’re just playing the best we could, and we love playing with each other,” said Puccio, who also had a big day with four hits in the doubleheader.

In the second game, FDU went ahead early 2-0 in the third inning after pitcher Beckah Wiggins, FCRH ’11, loaded the bases with one out. After a trip to the mound by head coach Bridget Orchard, Wiggins was able to calm down and get the next two outs.

“She just told me to relax, since I didn’t have to worry about whether or not we could score,” Wiggins said. “The first game showed me [that we could hit].”

Wiggins, although slightly wild in the third inning, pitched a complete game.

The Rams’ offensive barrage continued in game two, as the team added another convincing victory, winning 7-2 and committing no errors.

Fordham mounted a comeback in the third inning, scoring six times. Dearborn’s second home run, another three-run shot, brought home Andrews and designated hitter Allison Storc, FCRH ’08, who had reached on singles. Following a double from Waldron and an infield single from shortstop Samantha Pellechio, FCRH ’11, first baseman Erin Fisher, FCRH ’10, connected on another Fordham three-run homer.

Fisher also scored the final Fordham run of the game after being singled in by Storc in the fifth.

The wins should boost Fordham’s confidence as they play another doubleheader against A-10 opponent the University of North Carolina at Charlotte at home on April 20.