Feb. 25, 2011

Fordham Baseball Game Notes

Asheboro, N.C. - After an opening series win over VCU last weekend, the Fordham baseball team continues its season at McCrary Park in Asheboro, North Carolina, this weekend, as the Rams take on a familiar foe in the Iona College Gaels in a three-game set.

The teams will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday and have a single game on Sunday. In addition to this series, Fordham and Iona will also play against each other on April 19th at Houlihan Park.

The Rams and Gaels have a long series history, dating back to 1948, and 70 all-time meetings. Fordham holds a 44-25-1 advantage over Iona, which included probably the most memorable game in the series last year.

The Gaels built up a 9-1 lead by the fifth inning, before Fordham stormed back with 11 unanswered runs, to post a 12-9 victory.

Probable Starters:
Saturday - Game 1 - RHP Brian Pendergast (0-1) vs. LHP Justin Wiley (0-1)
Saturday - Game 2 - RHP Max Krakowiak (1-0) vs. LHP Colin Lyall (0-1)
Sunday - TBD vs. RHP Thomas Kriss (0-1)

SCOUTING IONA: Iona is 0-3 this season, after an opening weekend in Spartansburg, South Carolina, where the Gaels dropped a doubleheader to Wofford and a single game to South Carolina Upstate.

Iona was solid at the plate with a team batting average of .345, led by Joe Torres, who had a great start to his 2011 campaign. He was 8-for-15 with three runs scored for a .533 batting average. The pitching however was a little behind, allowing 31 runs in three games to go with an 11.45 ERA.

On the hill, Iona will most likely send the trio of LHP Justin Wiley (0-1, 11.12), LHP Colin Lyall (0-1, 40.50), and RHP Thomas Kriss (0-1, 16.20) to face the Rams.

LAST TIME OUT: The Rams opened 2011 with a 2-1 series win over VCU, which is the first series opening win, since Fordham swept Delaware State to begin the 2005 season.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE "FORDHAM FLIP"?: Even with another Atlantic 10 tournament berth and a win over nationally-ranked Miami (Fla.), the 2010 Fordham baseball season will forever be remembered for "The Fordham Flip," when Fordham shortstop Brian Kownacki leaped over Iona's catcher to score a run, capping a 12-9 come from behind win for Fordham.

The highlight exploded across the internet and television, earning Kownacki a trip to the 2010 ESPY Awards, where he finished as runner-up in the popular vote for the "Best Play of the Year" category.

The highlight still has some legs in 2011, as it is a finalist for the Hall of Game Awards, sponsored by Cartoon Network, under the "Most Viral Player" category. That award show is set for Friday, February 25th.

PRESEASON RECOGNITION: In the Atlantic 10 preview on CollegeBaseballInsider.com, Fordham seniors Max Krakowiak and Chris Walker goes some early season recognition from a survey of Atlantic 10 coaches.

Krakowiak was ranked as one of the top three starting pitchers in the conference, while also being the starting pitcher a coach would least want to face.

Walker was acknowledged for both his offensive and defensive prowess behind the plate. He was voted by coaches as the best defensive catcher, as well as having the best catcher arm. Offensively, he was voted as one of the best pure hitters in the league, one of the hitters a coach least wants to face, the most underrated hitter, and the toughest hitter to strike out.

UPCOMING GAMES: Following this weekend's series, Fordham will open its 2011 home season on Wednesday, March 2nd, when the Rams host crosstown rival, Manhattan College, at 3:00 PM.

Fordham then hits the road once again, this time heading to Winston Salem, North Carolina. The Rams will face Wake Forest (Mar. 4), Towson (Mar. 5), and Radford (Mar. 6) over the three-day stretch.