Box Score May 26, 2010
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Camden, N.J. -
The Fordham Rams got exactly what they needed offensively in their opening contest of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship, scoring 11 runs to go with 15 hits. Unfortunately, Saint Louis matched the 15 hits, scoring 16 runs, with the vast majority of the damage off the bat of Ben Braaten, who had four hits and a career-high six RBI, as the Billikens defeated the Fordham Rams, 16-11, at Campbell's Field in Camden, N.J.
The win advances Saint Louis to tomorrow's noon game against top-seeded Charlotte, while Fordham will play in the first elimination game of the championship at approximately 7:30 PM against the loser of the Rhode Island-La Salle game.
Fordham opened the scoring right away in the first off Saint Louis starter Alex Alemann. Nick Martinez reached on an error with one out, and moved to second on a single by Ryan McCrann. Chris Walker followed with a single to left, scoring Martinez for the game's first run. Mike Mobbs then singled to left, scoring McCrann for a 2-0 lead.
The Rams added to their lead in the second with three more runs. Stephen McSherry started the fame with a pop up that was dropped by the Saint Louis second baseman, allowing McSherry to go to second on the error. After a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Maghini, Brian Kownacki lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring McSherry from third.
Martinez kept the inning going with a single, and advanced to third on a double by McCrann. Walker then singled up the middle, scoring both runners for a 5-0 Fordham lead.
The Saint Louis bats then came alive with four runs in the top of the third off Fordham starter Max Krakowiak, highlighted by a two-run single by Ben Braaten and an RBI-single by Danny Brock.
The Billikens later grabbed their first lead of the game with a five-run fourth inning, taking a 9-5 lead. Saint Louis chased Krakowiak from the mound, as they loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and a walk. On came Fordham reliever Rich Anastasi, who struck out Jerry Mancuso for the first out of the inning. Brock however walked to force in a run, while Jon Myers connected for a two-run double, giving the Billikens a 7-5 lead. Brock then plated Braaten with a sacrifice fly, with Myers scoring later on a wild pitch for a 9-5 edge.
The score remained that way until the sixth, when the Billikens put two more runs across the plate on a two-single by Braaten, pulling Saint Louis ahead, 11-5.
The Rams finally got their rhythm back, scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth to make it an 11-8 game. Fordham loaded the bases with no outs, on a P.J. Como single, a walk to McSherry, and a single by Maghini. After a strikeout, Martinez dropped in a two-run single to right, scoring Como and McSherry. After a walk to McCrann, Walker knocked in his fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Maghini.
Fordham threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Como singled with McSherry reaching on a one-out walk. Maghini then lined out to right, where Mancuso doubled up Como at second for the double play, keeping the Billikens ahead by three.
Saint Louis continued their offensive surge, scoring three times in the eighth, and twice in the ninth to lead by a 16-8 count.
Fordham looked to mount a ninth-inning comeback, as Walker knocked out his fourth hit on the game, while Mobbs drew a walk. Michael Taddei then singled on a bad hop over the Saint Louis second baseman, scoring Walker from second with Mobbs taking third. After Matt DeSilva came on to pinch run for Taddei, Como singled to left, scoring Mobbs from third. After a flyout, pinch-hitter Angelo Ponte singled up the middle, scoring DeSilva, keeping Fordham's hopes alive at 16-11 with two runners on and one out. Kownacki however grounded into a 6-3 double play, ending the game and putting Fordham in the elimination game later this evening.
For Fordham, Max Krakowiak (7-4) lasted just three plus innings, allowing seven runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Rich Anastasi came on in relief, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits. Dan Sorine, Ryan Fedak, and Jeremy Adel also saw action out of the Fordham bullpen.
At the plate, Walker was 4-for-4 with his 25th double of the season and four RBI, giving him 60 for the season, putting him in sole possession of third on the Fordham single-season RBI list, just one behind Pete DeLuca (61 - 1991) for second. Martinez was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI, while McCrann and Como each had two hits. McCrann and McSherry also scored two run apiece.
The Rams now await their opponent in the final game of the day at Campbell's Field, which will be the loser of the La Salle-Rhode Island game, which is in progress.
