Box Score March 28, 2008
Box Score
St. Louis, Mo. -
In a seesaw affair that saw six lead changes, the Fordham Rams dropped their Atlantic 10 series opener to Saint Louis by a 10-8 count, with the final outs of the contest played under protest by Fordham.
With the loss, Fordham drops to 12-9 overall, 1-3 in the Atlantic 10, while Saint Louis improves to 10-11 overall, 1-3 in the league.
Saint Louis opened with the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as Casey Moore doubled down the left field line, moved to third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch.
The Rams struck right back with two runs in the top of the third inning. Alex Kenny started the rally with a single through the left side. Danny Leach then doubled to the right center gap, scoring Kenny from first to tie the game. Rich Goulian followed with an RBI-single to right, scoring Leach from second.
The Billikens re-took the lead in the bottom half of the third, taking advantage of two Fordham errors. Ziggy Moore started the inning with a double down the left field line, while J.D. Dunn drew a walk. Ryan Bennett then reached on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Saint Louis then got back-to-back runs on a ground out and a sacrifice fly to lead, 3-2. Bennett then scored on an error to make it a 4-2 game.
Fordham got right back into the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth. Chris Kaible reached on an error to start the inning, followed by an infield single by P.J. Como. With one out, Angelo Ponte tripled to center, scoring both Kaible and Como to tie the game. Rob Iacono then plated Ponte with a sacrifice fly to right and a 5-4 lead.
The Billikens tied the game at five in the bottom of the fourth, as they loaded the bases for the second straight inning and got a sacrifice fly to right by Greg Rodgers.
The Rams regained the lead with three runs in the fifth to go ahead, 8-5. Leach opened the frame with a bunt single, while Goulian doubled just over the right fielder's head to move Leach to third. Eric Reese then tripled to right center, scoring Leach and Goulian. Reese then scored on an RBI-ground out by Kaible.
The seesaw affair continued, as Saint Louis grabbed a 9-8 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Tom Pinnell led off the inning with a solo home run to left, his second of the season. Casey Moore then singled and moved to third on a pinch-hit double by Ramee Yocoub. Moore then scored on a ground out to make it an 8-7 game. The Billikens then loaded the bases for the third time in the game on a walk and infield single. Rodgers was then hit by a pitch to force in a run, while Mike Beal drew a walk to force in another run to take a one-run lead.
Saint Louis increased the lead to two in the seventh, 10-8, as Dunn drew a walk, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rodgers.
Fordham was unable to tie the game up in the final two innings, as Saint Louis' Scott Turmail (4-1) threw a complete game victory, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts.
Fordham's Tom Davis (2-2) took the loss, allowing nine runs on eight hits with six walks and five strikeouts. Ryan Sheflott came on in relief of Davis, and did not allow a hit in 3 1/3 innings of work. At the plate, Eric Reese was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while Danny Leach and Rich Goulian each had two hits and an RBI.
The same two teams will match-up for the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1:00 PM.
