Box Score April 16, 2010
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| 04/16/10 - Highlights vs. Saint Louis
Bronx, N.Y. -
Friday's series opener between Fordham and Saint Louis was all about two-hit outs, as Fordham recorded 12 two-hits in the game including four by Fordham's Ryan Lee, his first career four-hit game, as the Rams took the series opener from the Saint Louis Billikens by a 6-4 score at Houlihan Park on Friday.
With the win, Fordham improves to 11-21 overall, 6-4 in the Atlantic 10, while the Billkens fall to 18-17 overall, 6-4 in the Atlantic 10.
Fordham opened the scoring with four runs in the second inning off Saint Louis starter Bryant Cotton, with all runs coming with two outs. Angelo Ponte started the rally with a single to center, extending his career long hit streak to seven games. Brian Kownacki then drove a shot to left, which went over the leftfielder's head for a ground rule double. Nick Martinez then plated both runners with a single to right, moving to second on the throw home.
Ryan Maghini followed with another single to right to score Martinez and took second on the throw. Ryan Lee then capped the frame with a ground rule double that was just fair down the right field line, scoring Maghini for a 4-0 lead.
Saint Louis cut the lead back to three in the fourth at 4-1, as Jon Myers hit a solo home run to left center, his team-leading 14th of the season.
The Rams got that run back in the bottom of the fifth, once again with two outs in the frame. Following two outs and a double by Chris Walker, Ponte hit a shot to deep to left center, where the left fielder couldn't get a beat on it, crashing into the wall, which allowed Ponte to reach third on an RBI-triple, the second career triple for Ponte.
Saint Louis answered back with the long ball again as Steve Fernandez hit a solo home run to left center in the top of the seventh, his third of the season, to make it a 5-2 ball game.
Fordham again had the response, matching that run later in the seventh. With two outs, Walker drew a walk, followed by a Mike Mobbs single. Ponte came through again as he dunked a single into left to score Walker for a 6-2 lead.
The Billikens would not go away, as Fernandez hit his second home run of the game in the eighth. This time, it was a two-run home run to left, after Myers reached on a Fordham error, pulling Saint Louis within two, 6-4.
Then in the ninth, the Billikens put forth a final effort, loading the bases on a single and two walks with two outs. Saint Louis could not capture the same two-out magic as Fordham however as Fernandez was struck out by Fordham reliever Rich Anastasi to end the game.
For Fordham, J.P. Mack (1-4) recorded his first win of the season, giving up one run on four hits with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings, while Anastasi posted his first collegiate save, pitching a scoreless ninth.
At the plate, Lee was 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while Ponte was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Mobbs also had two hits in the game, while Walker scored two runs.
Saint Louis' Bryant Cotton (6-3) took the loss, as he went the distance, allowing six runs on 13 hits with eight strikeouts.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 1:00 PM.