Fordham Softball appears to have hit a bump in the road during the heart of their Atlantic 10 schedule. After an April 5 victory over Hofstra University at Bahoshy Field on the back of the spectacular pitching performance from Holly Beeman, the Rams began a nine-game road trip that started with a three-game set against the University of Rhode Island (URI) in Providence.

The Rams’ lengthy trip started on an extremely positive note, with Fordham winning game one against URI 10-0 and forcing a six-inning mercy rule to go into effect. In that one, the Rams struck in bunches, tallying a three-run first inning, a three-run fifth inning and a four-run sixth inning.

Freshman Eva Koratsis made the headlines, totaling six RBIs in a 3-4 day at the plate. Fellow freshman Neleh Nogay was also terrific in the batter’s box, going 4-4. She was named A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week for her performance. Senior Devon Miller picked up her fourth win of the year in the circle as she tossed six scoreless innings while surrendering just three hits.

But after that, tough fortunes hit the Rams. They’ve lost six in a row since game one against URI, including the final two games in Providence, a one-off midweek game against St. John’s University in Queens and three games against the University of St. Louis in Missouri. Apart from a five-run showing in game three against URI and a seven-run output on Sunday in St. Louis, the Rams have largely struggled to score runs in this stretch. They’ve been shut out three times and scored just one run against St. John’s.

This losing streak began with games two and three against Rhode Island. In game two, Fordham left six runners on base as Rhode Island’s Liz Lynchard tossed a complete game shutout that included an impressive eight strikeouts en route to a 3-0 victory.

Game three saw Fordham’s offense awaken, but so did Rhode Island’s. Fordham jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning thanks to a home run from junior Bailey Enoch, an RBI double from graduate student Sarah Taffet and a two-RBI single courtesy of senior Amanda Carey.

Rhode Island responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth before doing the rest of their damage in a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a Kylie Bulinski two-run homer that delivered them the lead. Down 6-4, the Rams got a run back in the sixth thanks to a solo home run from Koratsis, but they couldn’t scratch across the tying run despite getting two runners on base in the seventh.

After losing two of three to Rhode Island, the Rams fell to St. John’s last Wednesday by a score of 4-1. In that one, Fordham struggled to figure out the pitching of Lorely Francia, who delivered a complete game while surrendering one run with six strikeouts. Wells provided Fordham’s only offense with a home run to center in the fourth, but the Rams once again struggled to score Runs as Enoch did her best to keep St. John’s at bay in the circle.

Now having lost three in a row, Fordham traveled to Missouri to take on St. Louis. Their fortunes didn’t get any better though, as the Rams were swept in the three-game series by the Billikens.

Fordham didn’t score a run through the first two games of the series, falling 8-0 in game one and 1-0 in game two. The Rams actually out-hit the Billikens in game one 9-8, but Fordham left nine runners on base as they couldn’t scratch across a run. Fordham’s defense also committed three errors in big spots, making Miller’s job that much more difficult in the circle.

If game one was a tale of missed opportunities from the Fordham offense, game two was complete domination by the Billikens pitching. The Rams managed just one hit against Kaili Hanner, who completely shut the door on Fordham on her way to a complete game shutout. Enoch pitched well for the Rams, going six innings while surrendering just one run, but Hanner was nearly perfect resulting in a Billikens win.

Game three was an entirely different kind of contest. With the game tied at four in the bottom of the fifth inning, St. Louis hit three home runs courtesy of Abby Mallo, Kelsey Etling and Chloe Rhine to open up an 8-4 advantage.
The Rams rallied furiously in the bottom of the seventh inning, with graduate student Julia Martine drilling a three-run homer to get Fordham within a run.

But the Rams couldn’t tie things up, falling to St. Louis 8-7.

Now having lost six games in a row, Fordham will look to reverse their fortunes in a crucial week ahead against A-10 foes. Fordham has a double-header against St. Joseph’s University on Wednesday to wrap up their road trip before heading home for a three-game series against the University of Massachusetts at Bahoshy Field. Fordham sit in the bottom-three in the Atlantic 10 standings and need to pick it up as their season hits the stretch run.