By MATT ROSENFELD

SPORTS EDITOR

The Fordham softball team is quickly nearing the end of its season. As the number of games winds down, each contest becomes more and more important. That is especially true of conference games. Heading into last weekend, the Rams sat in fourth in the Atlantic 10. Not the most comfortable position knowing that only the top six teams make the Atlantic 10 Tournament at the end of the year.

All that being said, Fordham took care of business on Friday and Saturday, defeating A-10 foe Dayton twice to give the Rams two very important conference wins.

“Those wins were huge for us to get some confidence and momentum as the season winds down,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “We hope to be playing our best come tournament time, and this past weekend showed we have what it takes.”

The weekend would provide Fordham with an unlikely hero. While the usual suspects had their moments for Fordham, it was sophomore Cora Ianiro that came through in the biggest spots.

On Friday, the scoring started in the top of the third when two Dayton RBI singles put the Flyers up 2-0. That would be all sophomore Michelle Daubman would give up, however.

Fordham answered right back in the bottom of the inning. After a single from junior Elise Fortier and junior Gabby Luety was walked, sophomore Brianna Turgeon hit a double to center field that scored Fortier and gave the Rams runners on second and third with only one out. Dayton would get out of the jam, though, as a fielder’s choice and strike out kept the Flyers ahead 2-1.

Sophomore Kayla Lombardo would tie the game in Fordham’s half of the fifth with a solo home run to right field, her sixth long ball of the year.

Fordham made its move in the sixth. After Daubman set down Dayton for the third straight inning, the Rams came to bat needing to make something happen. Daubman walked to start off the inning and was followed by a single from senior Chelsea Palumbo to give Fordham first and second with nobody out. After a groundout advanced the runners to second and third, Orchard pinch hit Ianiro for sophomore Sammi Smith, hoping to get a big hit.

“Although she hasn’t had the game experience,” Orchard said, “we knew she could do it because of how she has stepped up at practices hitting live off our pitchers and during intersquad games. I had a good feeling and glad the opportunity was there to put her in.”

The decision paid off for Fordham. Ianiro hit a line drive triple down to the right field line that scored both Daubman and Palumbo and gave the Rams the lead 4-2.

“We’re really big on taking advantage of the opportunities [Orchard] gives you,” Ianiro said. “We worked so hard in the offseason, so coming up to the plate, even though I hadn’t had a lot of at bats, I still had confidence.”

Smith re-entered the game to run for Ianiro and was promptly driven in by Fortier to bring the Fordham lead to three runs. Daubman would struggle a bit in the last inning, surrendering two hits, but the sophomore came through, stranding three Flyers on base to end the game and give Fordham the 5-2 victory.

Daubman would be right back in the circle for the Rams on Saturday as Fordham looked to complete the sweep of Dayton.

Two errors in the top of the first put the Rams behind 1-0 very early in the contest. The lead would stay 1-0 for Dayton as Flyer sophomore Kayla English held Fordham hitless through the first four innings.

Fordham finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Daubman hit a single to center for the first hit of the game, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Palumbo to get her to second. Sophomore Paige Ortiz walked to give Fordham first and second with only one out. Sammi Smith was due up, but in a repeat of Friday’s game, Orchard decided to pinch hit Ianiro in the big spot. She came through again.

“I would definitely say I was more confident in the second game,” Ianiro said. “The more hits you get, the more confident you are going forward.”

Ianiro’s second big hit in two days tied the game at one. After senior Jamie LaBovick flew out, Fortier stepped to the plate and delivered in a big way. The junior hit a long home run over the left field wall onto the tennis courts behind Bahoshy Field to give Fordham a 4-1 lead that they would not relinquish. The home run was Fortier’s 15th of the season.

Daubman finished strong, allowing only one hit in the final two innings to give her 16 wins on the season. The sophomore from North Massapequa, N.Y. has proven to be the strongest pitcher on the Rams staff.

“Michelle has definitely emerged as a number one on our team and in the entire conference,” Orchard said. “She has stepped up in the big games and battled to get us back in contention for the top seeds in the tournament.”

Fordham also defeated Iona on Tuesday, 8-2.

Fordham is now 27-16 overall and 11-5 in the conference. Fordham is now in third in the A-10, with six conference games left on the schedule. They will take on St. Bonaventure on the road this Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26.