Box Score May 2, 2009
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Kingston, R.I. - Though sophomore John Flanagan threw the Fordham baseball team's second consecutive complete game, the Rams were not able to overcome two Rhode Island home runs that put URI over top of Fordham, 5-2.
Fordham is now 16-28 (10-10 Atlantic 10) while URI improves to 31-15-1 (16-3 Atlantic 10).
Rhode Island threatened early with runners on the corners and no one out in the bottom of the first. But a quick throw to home by Flanagan on the comebacker to the mound got Pete Mastors attempting to score on the play as Flanagan would get out of the inning without giving up a run.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when Rhode Island's Adam Derner knocked a two-run home run to left, giving URI a 2-0 lead.
The Fordham offense could not get things clicking until the top of the seventh as they scored two runs to tie the game, 2-2. With Angelo Ponte on third and Mike Mobbs on second, senior John Kahn delivered a clutch double into the right-center gap, scoring both runners.
Rhode Island wasted no time in retaking the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by Oliver Palmer's home run to center field, while URI added another run in the eighth to push their lead to 5-2.
Fordham had their chances as they brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the top of the ninth, but Rhode Island closer Luke Demko earned the five-out save after striking out the final two Fordham batters.
Flanagan tossed eight innings of five-run ball on 11 hits and one walk with four strike outs. As the Rams were the away team and did not take the field in the bottom of the ninth, Flanagan picks up his first complete game of the season, though at the same time falls to 5-3 on the year.
Kahn had a stellar day at the plate, going 3-4 with both Fordham RBI while Ryan McCrann stayed hot with a 3-4 day that included his 13th double of the year.
Fordham and Rhode Island will determine the winner of the three-game series on Sunday, May 3, at 12:00 PM.
