Box Score Feb. 20, 2009
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Boca Raton, Fla. - Putting forth a strong effort in their 2009 opening contest, the Fordham baseball team's late rallies came up short, as they fell to the Florida Atlantic Owls, 8-6, at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida.
"We took a lot of positives out of tonight's game," said head coach Nick Restaino. "It's disappointing to lose because it was a winnable game. FAU capitalized on our mistakes and came away with the win."
The Owls jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run home run by Tom Hatcher to right center, scoring Jeremy Griffiths, who walked, and Travis Ozga, who singled.
The Rams came right back to tie the game at three in the top of the second. Freshman Ryan Maghini started the rally with a two-out walk, while senior Angelo Ponte reached on an error by the FAU third baseman. Freshman Nick Martinez then connected for a three-run home run to right for his first career hit at Fordham and tie the game.
The Owls then took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of third, as Hatcher went deep to center for his second home run of the night, this time a solo shot.
Fordham responded with three runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 6-4 advantage. The bottom of the Rams order was again in the mix, as Maghini opened the frame with a single up the middle and moved to second on a passed ball. After a walk to Ponte and two strikeouts, Danny Leach looped a single to right, scoring Maghini with Ponte taking third. P.J. Como then singled through the right side to score Ponte with Leach going to third. The Rams then picked up their third run of the inning, as Como took off for second. FAU reliever Alex Pepe threw low to second to get Como, but the ball got by the shortstop, allowing Leach to score from third.
The Rams' lead did not last long, as the Owls picked up a pair of unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning to knot the game at six. Nick DelGuidice opened with a single, followed by a walk to David Wilson. After a sacrifice bunt, Anthony Mesa lifted a ball to left, which Mike Mobbs missed, allowing DelGuidice to score with Wilson going to third. Wilson then scored on an RBI-ground out by Griffiths.
FAU then regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-6 edge. DelGuidice led off with a double down the left field line, and then scored on an RBI-triple by Wilson. Troy Bubley then scored Wilson with a sacrifice fly off Fordham reliever Bobby Coyle.
The Rams got the tying run to the plate in each of the final two innings of the game, but both threats were erased by double plays, leaving the Rams with an 8-6 loss.
J.P. Mack (0-1) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on seven hits in five innings of work. Bobby Coyle and John Young combined for three hitless innings of relief out of the Rams' bullpen.
At the plate, Danny Leach was 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Ryan Maghini was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Angelo Ponte scored a pair of runs in the game with Nick Martinez driving in three runs on his first career home run.
The same two teams will match-up for the second game of this three-game set on Saturday, February 21st, beginning at 4:00 PM.
