Fordham Softball scored a whopping 40 runs over 22 innings this past week, earning four wins. Thirty-six of the team’s runs came over 15 innings of Atlantic 10 play on Saturday and Sunday.

The Rams started their games with a midweek, non-conference victory against the St. John’s University Red Storm in Queens, where senior Sydney Wells put the offense on her back for Fordham. After junior Neleh Nogay reached on a walk in the first, Wells homered to center field, giving the Rams an early 2-0 lead. In the third, Nogay reached again — this time on an error — so Wells had another chance to knock her in. This time, she sent a home run over the right field wall to extend Fordham’s lead to 4-0.

St. John’s scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth on a single and double. The Red Storm outhit the Rams 7-4, but Wells’ offense was enough to coast to a win. She was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double, a walk and all four RBIs. Junior Eva Koratsis added the only other hit for Fordham.

For the Rams, Sophomore pitcher Olivia Simcoe was excellent in a complete game effort. She allowed one run, seven hits, two walks and three strikeouts to earn her second victory of the season.

The Rams established a five-game winning streak this past weekend at home after sweeping the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies. All three games resulted in five-inning, mercy-rule victories.

In the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Fordham put up 15 against the Bonnies. The Rams started their journey to a mercy rule win with a four-run first. Much like against St. John’s, Fordham’s one and two hitters sparked the offense. Nogay got the Rams on base with a single to start the inning. She stole second, allowing her to score on a double by Wells for a 1-0 lead. The next four batters for the Rams reached base. Koratsis got aboard on a hit-by-pitch, then scored on a double by cleanup hitter junior Nicki Sudall. Sophomore Erin Hoppe added an RBI triple and junior Kate McGuire added an RBI single to bring Fordham’s first-inning score to 4-0.

The Rams tacked on two runs in the third on a solo home run by Sudall — her fifth on the season — and an RBI double by freshman Sophie Nesturrick. With two outs, McGuire came through again in the fourth to start a big nine-run inning. She singled with the bases loaded to bring in Nogay and sophomore Annie Sullivan (pinch running for Koratsis). A single by senior Mallory McClellan brought in the third run of the inning for Fordham. Poor defense by the Bonnies extended the inning and allowed two runs to score before the Rams turned over their lineup. In her second plate appearance of the inning, Nogay notched an RBI single up the middle before Wells cleared the bases with a three-run home run to cap off Fordham’s scoring.

Junior Holly Beeman earned the win — her first of two this weekend — in a nearly perfect effort. She gave up just two hits with eight strikeouts over five innings.

Fordham carried its offensive hot streak into game two on Saturday, outscoring St. Bonaventure 12-3. This time, the Bonnies jumped out in front in the first, scoring three runs on a pair of singles, a groundout and a two-run home run. The Rams answered with one run in the bottom of the inning. Nogay singled up the middle and eventually scored on a line out by Koratsis.

McClellan started the offense for Fordham in the second. She led off the inning with a double to right field. A bunt single and stolen base by sophomore Mikayla Swan put runners on second and third with no outs. Back-to-back singles by Nogay and Wells scored a run a piece to tie the game 3-3. Sudall came through with a two-run double to put Fordham up 5-3.

A seven-run third secured the Rams’ second mercy-rule win. Loading the bases on a walk and two singles, the team pushed its first run of the inning across on a single to right field by Nogay. Wells knocked in a second run on a fielder’s choice before Koratsis hit a grand slam to clear the bases and put Fordham up 11-3. McGuire added one more on a solo home run with two outs in the third.

Senior Emilee Watkins was the winning pitcher — earning her fifth on the season. After allowing three runs on three hits in the first, the pitcher was perfect for the rest of the game. Watkins had one strikeout and threw just 33 pitches over five complete innings.

The Rams completed the sweep with a 9-1 win over the Bonnies on Sunday afternoon. A little more than half of the team’s scoring occurred in the first. Nogay, Wells and Koratsis reached on a hit-by-pitch and two walks, respectively, to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch scored Nogay before a third walk by Sudall reloaded the bases. The middle of the lineup came through for Fordham, with Hoppe, McGuire and McClellan each picking up an RBI. Number nine hitter Swan drew the fifth walk of the inning to bring Hoppe home, putting the Rams ahead 5-0.

McClellan picked up her second RBI of the game in the second on a single to center field, scoring Hoppe — who reached on a fielder’s choice — to increase Fordham’s lead to 6-0.

St. Bonaventure responded with its lone run in the top of the third, a solo home run off of Beeman. The Rams finished their scoring in the bottom half of the inning. A walk by Wells started a two-out rally. Koratsis followed with a single to the right side before Sudall doubled to score both runners. Hoppe capped off the rally with an RBI single up the middle to extend Fordham’s lead to 9-1.

Over five innings, Beeman allowed one run and seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. She improved her record to 8-3. After this past weekend, Beeman has the lowest earned run average (ERA) for qualifying pitchers in the A-10, sitting at 2.04.

The Rams’ offense saw production from top to bottom against the Bonnies. The leadoff hitter Nogay went 5-for-8 with two walks, three RBIs and seven runs scored. She added five stolen bases against the Bonnies, making her total 28 on the season. Going into the weekend, Nogay was ranked 10th in the nation in stolen bases. Sudall — in the clean-up spot — had the most hits, going 6-for-7, with two walks, six RBIs and four runs scored. McGuire batted sixth, adding five hits, one walk and five RBIs.

Behind its strong offensive and pitching performances, Fordham improved its overall record to 16-16 (the first time since Feb. 7 they have not had a losing record) and 7-2 in conference play. As they continue their homestand, the Rams will look to extend their winning streak against the Stony Brook University Seawolves on April 2 before facing A-10 opponent George Mason University for a weekend series starting April 5.