Box Score May 15, 2008
Box Score
Amherst, Mass. -
With a chance at the playoffs still alive, the Fordham bats came alive for ten runs and tied a season-high with four home runs. Unfortunately for the Rams, the UMass Minutemen also had a big offensive day, winning the series opener, 12-10, at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.
The loss eliminated the Fordham Rams from playoff contention, dropping their record to 27-24-1 overall, 11-14 in the Atlantic 10, while Massachusetts improves to 18-25 overall, 11-14 in the league.
Fordham started the game out well, as the Rams got a two-run double from Ryan McCrann in the top of the first and a solo home run from Mike Mobbs, his first of the season, in the second for a 3-0 lead.
UMass then scored six times in the bottom of the second off Fordham starter J.P. Mack, highlighted by two-run singles from Jim MacDonald and Bryan Garrity.
Fordham closed within two in the third, as Eric Reese led off with a solo home run to left, his third of the season.
UMass then put four more runs on the board in the third, extending the lead to 10-4. In the inning, Brian Baudinet started the rally with a single and scored on a triple by Ryan Franczek, who later scored on a sacrifice fly. Later, Mike Donato hit a two-run home run to left, his third of the season.
Fordham kept hanging around, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth, as Chris Kaible opened with a single up the middle. One out later, Mobbs singled, followed by a three-run home run by Rich Goulian, his fourth of the season.
The Minutemen then bumped the lead back to five with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Andy Tuetken hit a solo home run to left, just clearing the fence for his third of the year. In the fifth, Franczek opened the frame with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out by Adam Tempesta.
Fordham kept clawing their way back into the game, scoring in the sixth and eighth innings to be within 12-9 in the ninth. In the sixth, Mobbs hit his second solo home run of the day to right, while in the eighth, P.J. Como tripled to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Bobby DiNardo.
In the ninth, Fordham cut the lead to 12-10, as Danny Leach doubled down the left field line with two outs and scored on a single by Reese, but UMass got McCrann to fly out to left to end the threat.
For Fordham, Mack (3-6) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings. Ryan Sheflott pitched the final 6.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with three strikeouts. At the plate, Mobbs was 3-for-4 with two home runs and three runs scored, while Reese was 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. McCrann went 2-for-5 with Goulian having a home run and three RBI.
The same two teams will match-up for the second game of the series on Friday afternoon, beginning at 1:00 PM.
