Box Score Feb. 28, 2010
Box Score
Durham, N.C. -
Having scored first in each of their first five games, the Fordham baseball team tried something different on Sunday, rallying from a 1-0 deficit to lead 2-1 into the sixth inning. The Duke Blue Devils then put together another big inning against the Rams, scoring five runs in the sixth en route to an 8-3 win at Durham Bulls Park.
Duke (4-3) notched the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, as Eric Brady drew a leadoff walk, while Ryan McCurdy was hit by a pitch. Two outs later, Will Piwnica-Worms continued to be a tough out for Fordham, driving in Brady with a single to right.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth, where Fordham put together a pair of runs for a 2-1 lead. Nick Martinez started the frame with single to right center, and scored on a double down the right field line by Chris Walker to tie the game. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third, Michael Taddei drew a walk to load the bases. Brian Kownacki then plated Walker with a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Rams a 2-1 edge.
Fordham starter John Flanagan was cruising into the sixth inning, retiring 14 straight batters after the Piwnica-Worms single in the first, and got Brady out to start the sixth. Unfortunately, McCurdy was hit by pitch with one out and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Jake Lemmerman then singled to move McCurdy to third, and Jeremy Gould followed with an RBI-double to tie the game at two.
Piwnica-Worms then came to the plate and struck again, this time with a two-run triple to right, scoring Gould and Lemmerman. After a pitching change by Fordham, Duke got an RBI-single by Gabriel Saade, and later a sacrifice fly by Dennis O'Grady to take a 6-2 lead.
The Blue Devils added to the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Saade hit a two-run home run to right, his first of the season, pushing the lead to 8-2.
The Rams tried to mount a comeback in the ninth, as Ryan McCrann was hit by a pitch to start the frame, followed by an infield single by P.J. Como. Taddei then reached on an error with McCrann scoring on the play. Duke reliever Trevor Cesar though was able to retire the side before any more damage by the Rams.
For Fordham, Flanagan (0-2) took the loss, allowing six runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, while J.P. Mack pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two runs on six hits.
At the plate, Fordham had just three hits in the contest, one each by Martinez, Como, and Walker. Walker did extend his career-high hitting streak to five games with his double in the fourth.
Duke's Jonathan Foreman (1-0) recorded the win, giving up two runs on two hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Wednesday, March 3rd, when they are scheduled to meet Manhattan College for their home opener at Houlihan Park, beginning at 3:00 PM.
