Box Score April 30, 2010
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
Trying to find a groove in their series opener against the La Salle Explorers, all the Fordham Rams could find was La Salle starter Eric Van Wyk. Van Wyk threw seven innings of one-hit baseball, while Pat Christensen recorded his eighth save of the year, as the Explorers posted a 6-2 win over the Rams at Houlihan Park on Friday night.
With the loss, Fordham drops to 14-28 on the season, 8-8 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle improves to 15-24 overall, 9-7 in league play.
La Salle got on the board immediately in the first, as Brendan Norton singled with two outs, stole second, and scored on a double by Jon Gyles.
The Explorers made it 3-0 in the third, as Fordham starter Daniel Munday issued two walks to John Malloy and Norton with one out. Gyles then connected for a hit-and-run single to score Malloy. Norton then came in to score on a ground out by Jeff Flax.
Fordham cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the frame, as Nick Martinez and Mike Mobbs drew back-to-back walks. After Ryan Maghini sacrificed the runners to second and third, Martinez scored on a ground out by Ryan Lee.
La Salle regained their three-run lead in the sixth on an RBI-single by Malloy, and then extended it to five in the ninth inning at 6-1. In the ninth, Brian Meagher hit a two-run home run to left, his fifth of the season.
Fordham could only muster one run in the bottom of the ninth, as pinch runner Matt DeSilva scored on a wild pitch from third base. DeSilva pinch ran after an Angelo Ponte single, and moved to third on a Martinez single.
Fordham managed only four hits against La Salle's Eric Van Wyk and Pat Christensen. Van Wyk (4-1) went seven innings, allowing one run on one hit with five walks and four strikeouts. Christensen recorded his eighth save, giving up one run on three hits with three strikeouts in two innings of relief.
Munday (3-4) took the loss for Fordham, allowing four runs on six hits with five walks and a career-high seven strikeouts. Ryan DeMartino pitched the final three innings, giving up one earned run on three hits with a season-high four strikeouts.
At the plate, Martinez was 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Brian Kownacki was 1-for-3 with a double.
The same two teams will match-up for the second game of this series at 4:00 PM on Saturday.
