Box Score Feb. 18, 2011
Box Score
Richmond, Va. -
A promising start for the Fordham baseball team saw seniors Joe Russo and Chris Walker, as well as freshman Tim Swatek get out to great starts at the plate, combining for seven hits and three RBI on Friday. However, the Fordham defense committed two costly errors, which led to five unearned runs and a 6-3 loss to the VCU Rams at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia.
Fordham (0-1) had an immediate scoring opportunity in the first, as Brian Kownacki connected for the Rams' first hit of the season, a double down the left field line. Kownacki however would be stranded at second, as Chris Walker and Ryan David were retired by VCU starter Seth Cutler-Voltz to end the inning.
VCU (1-0) opened the scoring with a three-run first inning off Fordham starter Brian Pendergast. VCU manufactured the first run with an opening single, sacrifice bunt, a ground out, and an RBI-single by Brent Mikionis. After another single, Fordham had a chance to get out of the inning, but an error by Ryan Maghini at shortstop, allowed a second run to score, which was followed by an RBI-single by Taylor Perkins for a 3-0 lead.
Fordham got a run back in the top of the second, as Joe Russo singled to center with one out. Freshman Tim Swatek then roped an RBI-double to center to score Russo, making it a 3-1 game.
Fordham then knotted the game at three in the top of the sixth inning as Walker connected for a two-run home run, scoring Kownacki, who drew a leadoff walk. It was the tenth career home run for Walker.
VCU came right back to take the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Taylor Buran led off with a bunt single, and after a line out, moved to third on a double by Perkins. Buran then tried to score on a passed ball, but Walker would tag out Buran at the plate for the second out of the inning. Walker though was unable stop the next pitch, allowing Perkins to score from third. After a walk,
Rich Anastasi came in to relieve Pendergast and would strike out Landon Prentiss to end the inning, down just one, 4-3.
VCU extended its lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh, once again taking advantage of Fordham miscues. With two on and two out, Fordham looked to be out of the inning on a ground ball to third, but Kownacki, who moved from center field to third earlier in the inning, committed an error, allowing both runners to score.
Fordham was unable to rally back, as VCU reliever Kyle Pelchy (1-0) pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit to record his first win of the season.
Pendergast (0-1) was the hard luck loser, allowing just one earned run over 5.2 innings, giving up nine hits and striking out four. In relief, Anastasi went two-thirds of an inning, allowing two unearned runs on one hit, while Chris Pike pitched the final 1.2 innings, giving up just one hit.
At the plate, Fordham managed three runs on nine hits. Joe Russo was 3-for-4 for his second career three-hit game, tying a career-high with three hits, while Tim Swatek was 2-for-4 with an RBI-double.
The same two teams will match-up for the second game of this series at 2:00 PM on Saturday.
