Box Score May 7, 2010
Box Score
Camden, N.J. -
Entering the eight inning Fordham was trailing 6-4 to Saint Joseph's in an Atlantic 10- contest at Campbell's Field. The Rams then picked up a pair of runs in the top of the inning to knot the game at six only to see the Hawks come back with three of their own in the bottom of the frame to pull out a 9-6 win in the first game of a three game set.
With the loss, Fordham drops to 16-30 on the season, 10-9 in the Atlantic 10, while Saint Joseph's improves to 17-22 overall, 12-7 in the league.
Fordham opened the game with a 2-0 lead, scoring once in each of the first two innings. In the first, Chris Walker cracked a solo home run to left with two outs, his second of the season.
In the second, P.J. Como connected for a two-out single, stole second, and scored on an RBI-single by Ryan Maghini.
Saint Joseph's tied the game at two in the bottom of the second, getting a pair of runs off Fordham miscues. With two on and one out, Brian Hartsell singled through the left side, but Fordham's Ryan Lee misplayed the ball allowing David Valesente to score. After the Hawks loaded the bases, Fordham starter Daniel Munday struck out Quinn Renner, but the ball got by Walker, allowing McDonald to score from third and tie the game.
The Hawks then grabbed a 5-2 lead with a three-run third inning. Saint Joseph's loaded the bases on a single, a walk, and a hit by pitch, bringing Ryan McDonald to the plate. McDonald then hit a line shot off Fordham second baseman Nick Martinez's glove, allowing two runs to come across the plate. After another single reloaded the bases, Renner drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run.
Fordham then chipped away at the Hawks' lead with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to make it a 5-4 ballgame. In the sixth, Walker and Angelo Ponte both drew walks to put runners at first at second. Martinez then singled to center, scoring Walker.
Later in the seventh inning, Fordham again put some two-out magic together, with runners at first and second. Ryan McCrann laced a shot to right that McDonald made a diving attempt for but the ball got past the Hawks' fielder. The play enabled Maghini to score, with Walker also trying to score on the play, but the relay throw from Valesente was in time to tag out Walker and end the Rams' rally.
Saint Joseph's regained a two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh at 6-4, as Kevin Taylor hit a solo home run to right, his fifth of the season.
Fordham came back immediately with two runs in the eighth to knot the game at six, once again with some clutch two-out hitting. Martinez started the rally with a two-out double, while Michael Taddei was intentionally walked. Stephen McSherry was set to pinch hit for Ryan Maghini, but the Hawks made a pitching change, bringing in Quentin Farr. The Rams countered with another pinch hitter Ryan David, who singled up the middle to score Martinez with Taddei taking third on a fielding error by the Hawks' centerfielder. Ryan Lee then dumped a single into left, scoring Taddei to tie the game.
The Hawks however scored three times in the bottom half of the eighth inning to retake a 9-6 lead. Drew Smith opened with a double off Fordham reliever Ryan DeMartino, which would be the only batter he would face. Jordan Grangard then came into the game, allowing a wild pitch and a double to Renner, scoring Smith as the Hawks regained the lead. Mike Coleman then reached base as his sacrifice bunt attempt was mishandles, allowing him to take second and Renner to score. Joseph Charest came on to relieve Grangard and hit Brett Tiagwad with a pitch before allowing both runners to move up a base on a wild pitch. After Charest struck out Dewey Oriente for the first out of the inning, Valesente walked to load the bases. Kevin Taylor delivered Coleman with the third run of the inning when he beat the throw to first on an attempted 3-6-3 double play to give Saint Joseph's a 9-6 lead.
Mike Boyland retired the Rams in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
Rich Anastasi threw an effective four and two-third innings of relief for the Rams, his longest outing of the year, allowing just two hits while striking out a season-high seven. At the plate, Walker finished the game 2-for-4 with the home run and two runs scored while Lee and Martinez also collected a pair of hits.
The two teams will meet for game two of the series on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Campbell Field.
