Box Score April 8, 2008
Box Score
Newark, N.J. -
Behind 16 hits and 12 stolen bases, the Fordham baseball team outlasted the NJIT Highlanders, 13-10, at Bears & Eagles Stadium in Newark, N.J.
With the win, Fordham improves to 16-13 overall, while NJIT falls to 2-23.
Fordham scored immediately to open the game, scoring three times in the first. Rich Goulian opened the game with a single to left, extending his hit streak to ten games, and stole second. After a walk to Eric Reese, P.J. Como singled to right, scoring Goulian with Reese moving to third. Como then stole second with the throw going wide, allowing Reese to score with Como going to third. Chris Kaible then singled to center to score Como.
NJIT made it a 3-1 game in the bottom half of the inning, as Miguel Lugo walked to start the inning and eventually came around to score on a Fordham error.
Lugo then tied the game in the bottom of the second with a two-run double to right, scoring Chris Cardone, who doubled, and Craig Binkiewicz, who walked.
Fordham then regained the lead with four runs in the top of third. Danny Leach opened with a single and stole second. After a walk to Reese and a double steal, Como singled up the middle to score Reese and Leach. After a pitching change, Como then stole second and Michael Taddei drew a walk. After a passed ball advanced the runners, Kaible knocked in Como with a ground out, while Taddei scored on an RBI-single by Alex Kenny.
Fordham tacked on another run in the fifth, as with runners at first and third with one out, Kenny lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Taddei from third. The rally though was cut short as DiNardo was doubled up at first base for the final out of the inning.
NJIT closed the gap to 8-4 in the sixth, as Matt Marotta hit a solo home run to left, the first of his career.
Fordham then pushed the lead to 13-4 with five runs in the top of the eighth. Kenny started the inning with a double, the first extra-base hit for the Rams in the game. John Kahn then singled to center, moving Kenny to third. Kahn then stole second with Leach drawing a walk to load the bases. Reese then cleared the bases with a three-run double down the left field line. Como then singled home Reese for his fourth RBI of the game. After a stolen base and passed ball put Como at third, Kaible beat out an infield single to score Como.
The Highlanders kept fighting back, scoring three times in the eighth to make it a 13-7 game, highlighted by a two-run home run from Chris Cardone, his third of the season.
NJIT then put together a bases loaded rally in the ninth, getting three RBI-singles to close the gap to 13-10, but Chris Kaible would finally retire the side for the Fordham win and his fifth save of the season.
Fordham's John Flanagan (2-1) got the win, pitching the first six innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits. At the plate, P.J. Como was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, three stolen bases, and four RBI, while Eric Reese was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two stolen bases, and four RBI. Besides recording the save, Kaible was also 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBI, with Danny Leach having two hits and three stolen bases.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Wednesday, April 9th, when they host the Seton Hall Pirates at 4:00 PM at Houlihan Park. The game will be broadcast live on wfuv.org.
