Box Score March 5, 2008
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
Solid pitching and clutch hits are always in the recipe for a baseball win, which is exactly what the Fordham Rams got today in the annual "Battle of the Bronx" against Manhattan College. John Young threw four innings of two-hit relief, while Rich Goulian, Chris Kaible, and Rob Iacono each had a pair of hits, as the Rams (1-5) picked up their first win of the season over Manhattan (1-7) by a score of 9-2.
Fordham opened the scoring in the first, as Rich Goulian singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI-triple by Eric Reese.
After Manhattan tied the game in the third on an RBI-single by Mark Onorati, Fordham scored twice in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-1 lead. In the fifth, Fordham loaded the bases with two outs on a single by Rob Iacono and walks to P.J. Como and Goulian. Chris Kaible and Ryan McCrann then drew back-to-back walks, forcing in two runs. In the sixth, the Rams got a two-run single from Goulian, scoring Danny Leach and Como.
Manhattan made it a 5-2 game on a solo home run by Dom Lombardi in the seventh, but Fordham responded with four in the bottom half of the inning to take a 9-2 lead. Angelo Ponte started the rally with an infield single, and was pinch run for by John Kahn. Alex Kenny then ripped a double to center, scoring Kahn from first. After a walk to Iacono, Como hit a towering three-run home run to right center, his first of the season, to cap the Rams' scoring.
The Fordham pitching staff did the rest, as Max Krakowiak, John Young, and J.P. Mack held Manhattan to just six hits on the afternoon. Young (1-0) picked up his first career win, pitching four innings of two-hit relief with two strikeouts, while Mack closed out the game with two scoreless innings. Krakowiak, making his first collegiate start, threw the first three innings, allowing one run on three-hits.
At the plate, Rich Goulian was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Rob Iacono was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Chris Kaible also had two hits for Fordham, with P.J. Como having a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on March 8-9, as they open a four-game series against Fairleigh Dickinson in Petersburg, Virginia. The Rams and Knights will play two-doubleheaders, both beginning at noon.
