Softball Begins 2017 Campaign at Hillenbrand Invitational

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Hillenbrand Invitational Information
 
Bronx, N.Y. – The four-time defending Atlantic 10 champion Fordham softball team begins its 2017 campaign this weekend in Tucson, Ariz. with the four-day 15-game Hillenbrand Invitational, hosted by #10 Arizona. Also competing this weekend are #21 Baylor, Tulsa, Northwestern, and CSUN. The Rams open their season with two Thursday night contests, both streamed live online via the link above, against the top-25 Baylor Bears and host Wildcats, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST, respectively. Friday brings a lone match-up with Tulsa at 2 p.m., which precedes a double-header against CSUN at 12 p.m. and Northwestern later on at 10 p.m. on Saturday. Tulsa and Northwestern both received votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
 
All but the last game against Northwestern will be streamed online.
 
2016 Season Review
Last Spring's campaign was the most decorated under head coach Bridget Orchard in her 15 seasons, with a program-record 13 end-of-season Atlantic 10 honors, plus a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection (Lindsay Mayer) and four honorees by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Rams compiled a 39-21 overall record, the 14^th straight season with at least 30 victories, and a program-best 18 wins in league play. Orchard was named Coach of the Year, Lindsay Mayer earned Player of the Year, and Jessica Hughes nabbed Rookie of the Year, while Sydney Canessa, and Madison Shaw joined the aforementioned duo as First Team All-Conference honorees, while Lauren Quense was named to the Second Team. Shaw and Canessa earned NFCA All-Mid Atlantic Region second team honors, while Mayer and Hughes garnered Third Team recognition. Hughes and Chelsea Skrepenak were selected for the All-Rookie team, while Canessa, Mayer, and Amy Van Hoven earned All-Academic honors.
 
Fordham's A-10 Championship run was dramatic, losing its first game to eventual finalists Saint Joseph's on the first day, 1-0, but rebounding with four victories over two days, including three straight all on Sunday due to weather. The Rams kept their season alive with a 12-inning 1-0 win against Duquesne, a brilliant pitchers duel between Rachel Gillen and last year's Pitcher of the Year Manda Cash that was broken up by Canessa's walk-off double. Fordham dropped Massachusetts Sunday morning, 6-2, then defeated the Hawks in back-to-back contests over the next five hours, including another walk-off win in game one in eight innings. The Rams reached their fourth straight NCAA Regional, getting placed in a quartet with #5 Oregon, #21 Baylor, and Long Beach State. The team's season ended with losses to the Ducks and 49ers.
 
You can view last year's season stats, as well as the program record book, here. Most notable last season was Jessica Hughes' single season record for stolen bases, finishing with 36 and breaking the previous record of 29 set by Lindsey Kay Bright in 2009.
 
Fordham Quick Facts
You can find this season's full schedule, roster, and quick facts, plus last year's season statistics, all here.
 
Fordham Picked to Successfully Defend A-10 Title
The Rams received nine of 10 first-place votes in the preseason coaches' poll, it was announced last week. Fordham has won four straight conference tournament titles and five of the last six, plus three regular season championships in the past six years, as well.
 
The Rams return all eight position player starters, losing only starting pitcher/DP Rachel Gillen. Second Teamer Lauren Quense returns for her senior campaign to anchor a staff that will include three freshmen. The Rams have six newcomers, five freshmen and one sophomore transfer, and will have one more underclassmen this season than upperclassmen.
 
Series History vs. This Weekend's Opponents
                - Have never played Baylor.
                - 0-1 vs. Arizona … The Rams played Arizonas once, a 3-2 loss against the then-15th ranked Wildcats at the Cathedral City Classic in 2012.
                - 0-2 vs. Tulsa … The Rams played the Golden Hurricane twice in 2002 at the Mardi Gras Classic and fell both times.
                - 1-0 vs. CSUN … The Rams defeated the Matadors, 9-8, in the 2009 season-opener at the Cathedral City Kickoff.
                - 0-1 vs. Northwestern … The two teams met for a one-off contest in Hempstead, N.Y. on March 24, 2015, with the Wildcats coming out 7-2 victors.
 
Welcoming New Faces
The program welcomes six new players to the Bronx this season: pitchers Madison Aughinbaugh, Taylor Stocks, and Stephanie Rundlett, infielders Skylar Johnston and Brielle Cerchio, and outfielder Deanna Burbridge. You can read about the first four signing their NLIs last winter here. Aughinbaugh and Rundlett were named their respective states' Players of the Year.
 
Up Next
The nonconference tournament schedule continues with next weekend's Pirate Clash, hosted by East Carolina. The Rams will meet Northeast Conference foes Bryant and Saint Francis in four of the five clashes and a one-off against the Pirates between Friday, February 17 and Sunday the 19th.