The Fordham Rams softball team represents Fordham University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). From 1985 until 1990, the team was a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). From 1991 until 1995, the team was a member of the Patriot League (PL). The Rams are currently led by head coach Melissa Inouye. The team plays its home games at Bahoshy Softball Complex, which is located on the college's campus.[2]

Fordham Rams
UniversityFordham University
Head coachMelissa Inouye (6th season)
ConferenceAtlantic 10
LocationThe Bronx, NY
Home stadiumBahoshy Softball Complex
NicknameRams
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Regular Season Conference championships
2005, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
For information on all Fordham University sports, see Fordham Rams

History

edit

After failing to finish a single season with a winning record prior to 2002, the program has become a dynasty in the Atlantic 10, winning six regular season championships, eight conference tournament championships, nine NCAA Division I softball tournament appearances, and finishing no worse than fourth in the conference each year since 2003.[3][4] The program rose to prominence under former head coach Bridget Orchard, who was hired in 2002 and accumulated only one losing season in her time with Fordham.[5]

In 2010, the Rams qualified for their first NCAA Division I softball tournament, getting in as an at-large bid after losing to UMass in the A-10 Conference championship game.[6] The team was placed in the Seattle Super Regional where they defeated Maryland by a score of 2-1. After defeating Maryland, the program faced off against Oklahoma, losing by a score of 1-0. This put Fordham in the losers bracket and set up a rematch with Maryland, with Fordham winning again 5-2. In another rematch, the Rams were eliminated from the tournament by Oklahoma by a score of 2-0, ending the Rams unprecedented run in the Regional Finals.[7][8]

In the 2015 NCAA Division I softball tournament, the Rams had another solid showing despite losing in their opening game to NC State by a score of 12-5. The team was sent to the losers bracket, where they faced off against Binghamton, defeating the team by a score of 8-0 in five innings via mercy rule. Fordham moved on to face #15 seeded James Madison, who they defeated in an upset by a score of 2-1. The Rams were eliminated from the tournament by NC State, losing 2-1 in the Regional Finals.[9][10]

Fordham in the NCAA Tournament

edit
Year Record Pct Notes
2010 2–2 .500 College Park Regional
2011 1–2 .333 University Park Regional
2013 1–2 .333 Norman Regional
2014 0–2 .000 Tallahassee Regional
2015 2–2 .500 Harrisonburg Regional
2016 0–2 .000 Eugene Regional
2017 1–2 .333 Salt Lake City Regional
2018 0–2 .000 Baton Rouge Regional
2019 0–2 .000 Seattle Regional
2022 0–2 .000 Stillwater Regional
TOTALS
7-20 .259

Coaching history

edit
Years Coach Record %
1985–1988 Anne Newhouse 22–54 .289[11]
1989–1991 Don Mills 30–85 .261[12]
1992–1996 Steve Kelly 61–107–2 .365[13][14]
1997–2001 Debbie Corbett 65–173–1 .274[15]
2002–2018 Bridget Orchard 624–377–1 .623
2019–present Melissa Inouye 124–99 .556

[16]

Roster

edit
2024 Fordham Rams roster
 

Pitchers

  • 16 – Holly Beeman – Sophomore
  • 9 – Bailey Enoch – Senior
  • 19 – Devon Miller – Graduate Student
  • 55 – Olivia Simcoe – Freshman
  • 22 – Emilee Watkins – Junior

Catchers

  • 51 – Nicki Sudall – Sophomore
  • 46 – Sydney Wells – Junior

Outfielders

  • 5 – Michaela Carter – Graduate Student
  • 2 – Mallory McClellan – Junior
  • 20 – Neleh Nogay – Sophomore
  • 17 – Annie Sullivan – Freshman
  • 24 – Mikayla Swan – Freshman
 

Infielders

  • 21 – Bella Ayala – Senior
  • 3 – Allie Clark – Junior
  • 7 – Erin Hoppe – Freshman
  • 00 – Eva Koratsis – Sophomore
  • 25 – Kate McGuire – Sophomore
  • 12 – Julia Petrovich – Senior
  • 8 – Gianna Sarlo – Graduate Student
 
Reference:[17]

Season by season results

edit
Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Fordham Rams (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (1985–1990)
1985 Anne Newhouse 3–15
1986 Anne Newhouse 8–11
1987 Anne Newhouse 6–15 5th
1988 Anne Newhouse 5–16 7th
1989 Don Mills 11–25 5th
1990 Don Mills 10–33 5th
Fordham Rams (Patriot League) (1991–1995)
1991 Don Mills 9–27 3–8 6th
1992 Steve Kelly 12–23 5–7 5th
1993 Steve Kelly 12–23 4–8 5th
1994 Steve Kelly 14–14–2 7–5 4th
1995 Steve Kelly 18–20 3–8 T–6th
Fordham Rams (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1996–present)
1996 Steve Kelly 5–27 1–15 9th
1997 Debbie Corbett 7–33 1–15 9th
1998 Debbie Corbett 17–27 3–11 9th
1999 Debbie Corbett 5–37 1–15 9th
2000 Debbie Corbett 17–36–1 5–11 8th
2001 Debbie Corbett 19–40 7–14 6th
2002 Bridget Orchard 14–43 3–18 T–7th
2003 Bridget Orchard 37–19 10–6 4th
2004 Bridget Orchard 35–24–1 8–6 4th
2005 Bridget Orchard 38–16 15–1 1st
2006 Bridget Orchard 37–23 13–5 3rd
2007 Bridget Orchard 39–20 16–4 2nd
2008 Bridget Orchard 36–30 11–9 4th
2009 Bridget Orchard 37–22 13–7 4th
2010 Bridget Orchard 49–12 16–2 2nd NCAA Regionals
2011 Bridget Orchard 42–18 16–4 1st NCAA Regionals
2012 Bridget Orchard 32–26 14–6 2nd
2013 Bridget Orchard 36–23 15–7 T–2nd NCAA Regionals
2014 Bridget Orchard 36–20 13–3 1st NCAA Regionals
2015 Bridget Orchard 38–20 17–5 3rd NCAA Regionals
2016 Bridget Orchard 39–21 18–4 1st NCAA Regionals
2017 Bridget Orchard 46–17 18–5 1st NCAA Regionals
2018 Bridget Orchard 33–23 18–4 2nd NCAA Regionals
2019 Melissa Inouye 29–26 16–6 1st NCAA Regionals
2020 Melissa Inouye 7–13 0–0 N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Melissa Inouye 38–10 17–3 3rd
2022 Melissa Inouye 30–23 15–8 2nd NCAA Regionals
2023 Melissa Inouye 20–28 11–10 5th
2024 Melissa Inouye 0–0 0–0
Total: 926–899–4 (.507)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[18][19][20]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Fordham Colors – Fordham University Marketing and Communications". Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "Bahoshy Softball Complex/Murphy Field". Fordham University Athletics.
  3. ^ Softball, Atlantic 10 (January 27, 2015). "Atlantic 10 Softball: 2015 Fordham Rams: The new dynasty in the Bronx".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Coach Fuels Fordham's Rise as Softball Power". Fordham Newsroom. June 7, 2010.
  5. ^ Neel, Roger. "Bridget Baxter Orchard Named Villanova Head Softball Coach". WNBF News Radio 1290.
  6. ^ Thomas, Katie (May 21, 2010). "Fordham Ace Finds Perfection, Three Times" – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ^ Raimondi, Marc (May 24, 2010). "City college softball teams have unprecedented success".
  8. ^ Reports, Wire. "Softball notebook: Fordham beats Maryland, takes on Sooners today". The Oklahoman.
  9. ^ "Rain Suspends the Final Two Innings Tonight Against JMU". Fordham Newsroom. May 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Fordham Reaches Regional Final, but Loses on Walk-Off". atlantic10.com.
  11. ^ "Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections". www.library.fordham.edu.
  12. ^ "Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections". www.library.fordham.edu.
  13. ^ "Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections". www.library.fordham.edu.
  14. ^ "Fordham Faces Seton Hall in Home Opener". Fordham University Athletics.
  15. ^ "Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections". www.library.fordham.edu.
  16. ^ "Softball Statistics". Fordham University Athletics.
  17. ^ "2024 Softball Roster". Fordham University Athletics.
  18. ^ "Softball Standings 1986-2022". maacsports.com.
  19. ^ "2023 Softball Record Book (PDF) - Patriot League" (PDF). patriotleague.org.
  20. ^ "SOFTBALL RECORD BOOK THROUGH 2016-17 SEASON (PDF) - Atlantic 10" (PDF). static.atlantic10.com.
edit