Box Score Feb. 27, 2010
Box Score
Durham, N.C. -
After losing a tight game on Friday, Fordham baseball tried to bounce back on Saturday opening the game with a 2-0 lead in the first. Duke however had other plans taking advantage of seven walks and six hit batsmen en route to an 11-4 win at Durham Bulls Park in Durham, N.C.
Fordham (0-5) struck first on the scoreboard, tallying two runs in the first four batters of the game. Mike Mobbs started the offense with a one-out single, and scored on a double down the left field line by Chris Walker. P.J. Como followed with an RBI-single to right center, scoring Walker from second.
The Rams however gave the lead away just as quickly, as starter Brian Penedergast walked the first three Duke batters to load the bases. After a strikeout, Will Piwnica-Worms drew another walk to force in a run, which was followed by a two-run single by Will Currier and an RBI-single by Gabriel Saade for a 4-2 Duke lead.
The Blue Devils (3-3) put up another four-spot in the bottom of the second, loading the bases on two hit batsmen and a walk. Piwnica-Worms did the damage again with a bases clearing triple, and then scored on a Currier double.
Fordham had a chance to answer back in the top of the third, but couldn't cash in on a bases loaded, no-outs scenario. Brian Kownacki started the third with a single and moved to third on a Mobbs double. Walker then drew a walk to load the bases. The Rams got unlucky though in the next two at bats, as Como lined out into an unassisted double play, while Ryan McCrann struck out to end the threat.
The Rams did however cut into the lead in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs, once again started by Walker. Walker connected for his second double of the afternoon, and scored on a double by Como. McCrann then knocked in Como with a single to left, making it an 8-4 game.
The Fordham bullpen kept the Rams in the game through the sixth inning as Jordan Grangard and Brando Casalicchio kept the Blue Devils scoreless for 4 1/3 innings of relief.
The Blue Devils finally got to the Fordham bullpen in the seventh, tacking on three runs for an 11-4 lead. Reliever James Stone came in for Casalicchio to start the seventh, but was not effective, surrendering a walk and a hit batsman, before being replaced by Ryan DeMartino. DeMartino then hit his first batter to load the bases with no outs.
After a strikeout, Duke collected their three runs on an infield single, another hit batter, and a sacrifice fly to pull out to a seven-run lead.
Fordham was unable to battle back like they did on Friday, as the Blue Devils' relievers combined for four hitless innings of relief with four strikeouts to end the game.
For Fordham, Como was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Walker was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Mobbs also had two hits for Fordham, including a double.
On the mound, Pendergast (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs on three hits with five walks and two hit batters.
The three-game series between Fordham and Duke will conclude on Sunday with a 1:00 PM start at Durham Bulls Park.
