Box Score March 27, 2009
Box Score| Highlights 
Bronx, N.Y. - It can be hard for a player, coming off the bench, late in the game with the score tied, to be productive in his first at-bat. That was not the case for sophomore Chris Walker as his eighth inning single up the middle proved to be the game-winning hit for Fordham baseball as they defeated the University of Massachusetts, 6-5.
Fordham improves to 7-13 (3-1 Atlantic 10) as UMass falls to 6-10 (1-3 Atlantic 10).
"It was a great to see the guys come back and get the win," remarked head coach Nick Restaino. "Chris Walker had a great at-bat to pick us up while J.P. Mack had another quality start."
The game got interesting in the top of the eighth with Fordham leading, 5-2. Freshman Jordan Grangard was on the mound, after coming in relief for starter J.P. Mack in the sixth inning, and got the first man out in the seventh. That's where Grangard had some issues, giving up three straight walks to load the bases.
In came senior Chris Kaible to try and get out of the bases-loaded, one out jam when he gave up a double to Mike Gedman, scoring two runners. Kaible hit the next batter, once again loading the bases, and would give up one more run on a sacrifice fly to center before Walker threw out the runner on second trying to advance to third for the third out.
Those three Minutemen runs made it a brand new ballgame going into the bottom of the eighth. But the UMass rally would not put down the Fordham bats, as freshman Ryan Maghini came in to pinch hit and used the opportunity to lead off the inning with a double to center. Minutemen pitcher Mitchel Eilenberg got Danny Leach to strike out and Mighini advanced to third on a Mike Mobbs ground out to put a runner on third with two outs.
An intentional walk to senior Bobby DiNardo put runners at the corners for Walker's clutch single. His base knock up the middle scored Maghini from third to put the Rams up, 6-5.
Kaible ran into minimal problems in the top of the ninth, giving up a two out walk and getting a grounder to short to end the game, giving him his second win of the season.
It was all Fordham in the beginning of the game as they took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Two of those Rams runs came from DiNardo's eighth homerun of the season when he launched a ball of the left-field fence.
The Rams added another run, in the top of the fourth, with the inning starting off on a Stephen McSherry triple. He would later be brought in on a Nick Martinez single to center, making it a 4-0 ballgame.
All was quiet until the Minutemen brought in two runs in the top of the seventh while the Rams responded with one run in the bottom of the inning.
On the hill, Mack threw 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, four walks and struck out three. Kaible improved to 2-1 on the year with the win on 1.2 innings pitch, allowing only one hit, one walk and struck out one.
At the dish, Nick Martinez went 2-3 with an RBI while Ryan McCrann had a 2-5 day. DiNardo's homerun gave him two RBI on a 1-3 afternoon.
There is a scheduling change for the Rams as the predicted rain showers to hit the Fordham area Saturday night and Sunday morning will make tomorrow into a double-header, starting at 1:00 PM. Please make note, for this differs from what was originally scheduled as Saturday was supposed to be just one game and there will now be no game on Sunday.
