WASHINGTON—Top-seeded Fordham scored six runs in the middle innings to defeat No. 3 Massachusetts, 6-2, in the consolation bracket final of the 2016 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship. Heavy winds blew through the George Washington Mount Vernon Athletic Complex during the early game, which was moved to Sunday morning after rain delayed the championship Saturday.

The Rams advance to their third straight A-10 title game to face No. 5 Saint Joseph’s, which reached the finals out of the winner’s bracket. Fordham (37-19) will be trying to win its’ fourth straight A-10 crown, but will need to beat Saint Joseph’s twice in the double-elimination tournament.

A double by Chelsea Skrepenak, who advanced to third on an error, led off the third inning for the Rams. Morgan Figueroa then reached on a bunt that scored Skrepenak. A sacrifice fly by Sydney Canessa two batters later drove in Figueroa. A one-out double by Rachel Gillen score Lindsay Mayer and a single by Madison Shaw up the middle plated Gillen.

Fordham went through its entire lineup in the third inning, putting Skrepenak, the seventh batter, back in the leadoff position to start the fourth. She struck out, and Figueroa was out on a fielder’s choice that put Amy Van Hoven on base. Canessa then did more damage with a double down the line that put Van Hoven in position to score on an outfield error. Canessa then came home on an error that allowed Mayer to reach first.

The Minutewomen started a rally in the seventh on a leadoff single by Erin Stacevicz. She worked her way around to third and scored on a wild pitch that also put Jena Cozza on third. A two-out double by Lindsey Zenk down the right field line pushed Cozza home, but a strike out by Lauren Quense, who was in the circle for Fordham, ended the game.

Quense (16-9) got the win for a complete game where she allowed two unearned runs on eight hits. Meg Colleran (22-17) who had a brilliant outing earlier in the championship took the loss. She surrendered six runs (four earned) on 10 hits.

A-10 Rookie of the Year Jessica Hughes was 3-for-3 to lead Fordham, while Figueroa was 2-for-3 at the plate. Zenk went 2-for-3 to lead UMass, which closes its season at 26-24.