Box Score March 9, 2010
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BRONX, N.Y. -
A gradual late-game rally was not enough for the Fordham baseball team as Manhattan scored five runs in the fourth inning to win 12-8 in a non-conference, mid-week, battle of the Bronx clash at Houlihan Park on Tuesday.
With the loss, the Rams fall to 3-7 on the season. The Jaspers advance to 4-7.
The game was a make-up after weather postponed the contest, which was originally scheduled to be played on Wednesday, March 3.
Sophomore second baseman Nick Martinez (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep) was 2-for-3 for the day with two runs and one RBI. Senior centerfielder Mike Mobbs (Stony Point, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) was 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI, including a lead off triple in the seventh. Senior catcher Angelo Ponte (Old Tappan, N.J./Hendrick Hudson) was 3-for-3 with an RBI and run.
The bats in the Bronx got started in the second inning as Manhattan and Fordham combined for 10 runs.
Manhattan led off with two walks and continued as the first four batters got on base. Jasper Chad Salem scored Manhattan's first run of the day, walking into home plate after bases loaded as Anthony Armenio was hit by a pitch. The Jaspers were able to send in five more runs off four hits and a fielder's choice as they led 6-0 going into the bottom of the second.
Fordham answered right back as senior first baseman Michael Taddei (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) singled to center field with one out to get things started for the Rams. Fordham quickly got runners in scoring position after a walk from senior right fielder P.J. Como (Sea Cliff, N.Y./North Shore) and a fielder's choice single from rookie leftfielder Ryan Lee (Attleboro, Mass./Bishop Feehan). With two outs, Ponte singled to center field to score Taddei and advance Lee over to third. With a walk from Martinez, the Rams loaded the bases with sophomore Brian Kownacki up at the plate. A wild pitch from Jasper pitcher Zac Goyer, allowed Lee to score and advanced Martinez and Ponte over to second and third. Kownacki singled on the next pitched down the left field line to score both Martinez and Ponte for two RBI, and allowed Fordham to catch up quickly, with four runs. Senior thirdbaseman Ryan McCrann (Needham, Mass./Needham (Boston College)) popped up to second base to end the rally for Fordham.
The Jaspers got five more runs on the board in the fourth inning, which retired Fordham's starting pitcher, senior J.P. Mack (Plano, Texas/Jesuit College Prep) and put junior John Flanagan (Andover, Mass./Boston College High) on the mound. Manhattan scored five runs off five hits to take a 11-4 lead.
Fordham made a slow rally in the latter innings, getting a run on the board in both the sixth and seventh innings. Lee scored the run in the sixth, running through home plate from third on a single from Martinez. In the seventh, Mobbs hit a leadoff triple off new Jasper pitcher, senior Tom Moran. Taddei put runners at the corners as he reached first after being hit by a pitch. Como hit into a double play on the next at bat, but earned the RBI as Mobbs scored from third. Lee flied out to left field to end the inning.
Going into the final two innings, Manhattan led 12-6, scoring an additional run in the seventh.
The Rams rallied again in the eighth, but the two runs off two hits from Martinez and Mobbs was not enough to overcome the Jaspers' fifth inning batting showcase as Fordham lost 12-8.
Mack (0-1) recorded the loss for Fordham, while Goyer (1-0) earned the win.
The Rams had four extra-base hits, including two triples, one by McCrann and one by Mobbs. Kownacki had four assists at shortstop.
The Rams will return to action on Wednesday, March 10, for another mid-week, non-conference game at 3 p.m. This time, Fordham will face the New York Tech Bears for the third time in six days. Fordham defeated NYIT 1-0 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday to go up 2-0 in the season series.
