Box Score Feb. 29, 2008
Final Stats
Wilmington, Del. -
The Fordham University baseball team got out to a 7-0 lead over UNC Wilmington on Friday only to see the Seahawks come roaring back, scoring four times in the eighth and four more in the ninth to pull out an 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Rams on Brooks Field in the first game of a four-game series.
With the loss, the Rams fall to 0-2 on the season while UNC Wilmington improves to 2-4.
The loss spoiled a solid pitching performance from Fordham starter Tom Davis, who threw seven shutout innings for the Rams, allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking one, and two home runs from both Chris Kaible and Rich Goulian.
Fordham jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second when Kaible led off the frame with a solo home run.
A Rich Goulian home run to lead off the fourth made it a 2-0 game and the Rams would score three more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Mike Mobbs led off the Fordham fifth with a walk and, one out later, moved to second on a Danny Leach single. A Goulian single loaded the bases and Eric Reese was hit by a pitch to force in Mobbs. Kaible greeted Wilmington reliever Bryan Booth with a sacrifice fly to plate Leach and Michael Taddei followed with a single to deliver Goulian with the third run of the inning.
The Rams tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh on solo home runs from Goulian and Kaible, the second home run of the year for each, to increase the lead to seven.
Wilmington got four runs in the bottom of the eighth as J.P. Mack came on in relief of Davis and hit the first batter he faced, Rhett Miller, before giving up a home run to Daniel Hargrave, his third of the year. One out later, Mark Carver hit a solo home run, his first of the year, to cut the Fordham lead to 7-3. A Shane French single brought John Flanagan out of the bullpen for the Rams with Tyler Stott coming on to pinch run for French. Stott then stole second and took third on a balk where he scored later in the inning on a Nate Hall single.
Miller led off the home half of the ninth with a double and one out later, Jason Appel was hit by a pitch. A Carver single brought in Miller to make it a 7-5 game with Appel taking second. Pinch hitter Cody Stanley reached on a fielder's choice with Carver put out at second and Appel advancing to third on the play before pinch hitter Jes Snyder walked to load the bases. Hall then tied the game with a two-run single to left. Ryan Sheflott came on to relieve Flanagan for the Rams but the first batter he faced, Justin Barefoot singled to short to plate pinch runner Bobby Leeper with the game-winner.
Goulian finished the game with three hits, including the two home runs, and two RBI while Kaible was a perfect 2-for-2 with the two home runs and three RBI.
The two teams will continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m.
