Box Score May 2, 2010
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
The seesaw affair that was the first two days of Fordham-LaSalle baseball series, led to Sunday's crucial rubber game, which saw the game tied at five, heading to the bottom of the sixth. The Fordham bats then came alive with a six-run sixth inning, highlighted by a pair of two-run singles by Brian Kownacki and P.J. Como, as the Rams closed out the series with a 12-5 victory over the Explorers at Houlihan Park.
With the win, Fordham improves to 16-28 overall, 10-8 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle falls to 9-9 in league play, 15-26 on the year.
Fordham opened the scoring in the first, taking advantage of a La Salle miscue. Nick Martinez led off with a walk with Brian Kownacki dumping a double down the right field line. La Salle rightfielder Chris Umstead then threw wide at third, trying to get Martinez, allowing Martinez to score on the error.
The Explorers bounced back quickly with two runs in the second on an RBI-ground rule double by Jeff Flax and a sacrifice fly by Marc Schoch.
Fordham then tied the game at two in the third, as Martinez reached on a bunt single, moved to third on a Kownacki single, and scored on a ground ball by Ryan McCrann.
La Salle regained the lead in the fourth at 4-2, as Flax hit a two-run home run to left, his first of the season.
Fordham rallied right away with three runs in the bottom of the frame, which got started with a solo home run to right by Stephen McSherry, his first of the season. P.J. Como followed with single, with Ryan Maghini doubling to right center, scoring Como to tie the game. After Maghini moved to third on a ground out, Kownacki plated him with a sacrifice fly to center, giving Fordham a 5-4 lead.
After La Salle tied the game at five in the top of the sixth, Fordham took control of the game with a six-run sixth inning to grab an 11-5 lead. The rally started with Como reaching on a dropped third strike that got past La Salle's back-up catcher Adam Kammler. After a line out, Martinez singled to left center, pushing Como to third with Martinez taking second on the throw. Kownacki then plated both runners with a two-run single and took second on the throw home.
After a ground out moved Kownacki to third,
Chris Walker singled through the left side, scoring Kownacki. La Salle reliever Christian Schulz then walked the next three batters, the last being McSherry, to force in a run. Como capped the rally, by ripping a two-run single down the left field line to make it an 11-5 score in favor of the Rams.
Fordham's Michael Taddei then added the final nail in the eighth, as he blasted a solo home run off the scoreboard in right center, his fourth of the season and second in as many days.
Joseph Charest (1-2) was the beneficiary off the Rams' offensive surge, earning his first collegiate win. He threw 2.1 innings of relief, giving up one run on two hits, while Rich Anastasi earned his second save of the season, pitching three innings of two-hit relief. Fordham starter J.P. Mack pitched the first 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits.
At the plate, McSherry was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Kownacki was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Como and Taddei each had two hits and two runs scored in the game, with Martinez having two hits and three runs scored.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Tuesday, May 4th, when the Rams host Marist College at Houlihan Park, beginning at 7:00 PM.
