Box Score Feb. 19, 2010
Box Score
Norfolk, Va. -
In the opening baseball game of the 2010 season, the Fordham Rams got the early lead on Old Dominion on an RBI-single by Nick Martinez, but the Monarchs rallied for five runs off Fordham starter John Flanagan en route to an 8-2 victory at the Bud Metheny Complex in Norfolk, Va.
After getting a first inning double play, Fordham (0-1) got on the board in the top of the second inning. Mike Mobbs led off with an infield single, and moved to third on a single by Ryan David. Martinez then ripped a single through the left side to score Mobbs for the 1-0 lead.
Old Dominion answered right back in the bottom half of the second, as they loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch, and an infield single. Chris Buss then connected for a two-run single to score Nathan Hartman and Chris Baker.
The Monarchs tacked on three more runs in the bottom of third to take a 5-1 lead, on a two-run double by Hartman and a solo home run by Joe Velleggia.
The score stayed that way until the top of the fifth inning, where the Rams closed to within 5-2 with a single run. Brian Kownacki led off the frame with a double down the right field line, and moved to third on a ground out by Alex Kenny. P.J. Como followed with a single up the middle to score Kownacki.
The Rams looked for more runs in the top of the sixth. Fordham got the first two runners on base, as Mobbs was hit by a pitch with David registering his second hit of the afternoon. Old Dominion however got out of the inning with three straight outs on a flyout by Angelo Ponte and ground outs by Martinez and Stephen McSherry.
The Monarchs then took advantage of four walks in the bottom of the seventh inning, rallying for three runs to take an 8-2 lead. The highlight of the inning was a leadoff triple by Buss, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Donnie Corsner.
Fordham tried to rally in the ninth, as the Rams loaded the bases with one out. Joe Russo started with a single, followed by a walk to Kownacki. Kenny then reached on an error to load the bases. The Monarch's Phil McCarthy though would pitch out of the jam, getting Como to fly out, while striking out Chris Walker.
Old Dominion's Kyle Hald (1-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. McCarthy registered the save, closing out the final 3 1/3 innings, giving up just one hit and two walks.
Fordham's John Flanagan (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in five innings of work. Joseph Charest saw his first action as a Ram out of the bullpen, giving up two runs in just over an inning of work, while Jordan Grangard allowed one earned run in two innings of work.
At the plate, Mobbs and David each went 2-for-3 on the afternoon, while Como was 1-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI.
The same two teams will match up for the second game of this series on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 PM.
