Feb. 26, 2011
Box Score
Asheboro, N.C. -
Despite there two campuses being just miles away, the Fordham University Rams and Iona College Gaels traveled a long way for today's doubleheader in Asheboro, North Carolina. But for the Rams the trip was worth it as Fordham used strong pitching and timely hitting to sweep a doubleheader from the Gaels, winning the first game 3-1 (on an eleventh inning home run from Ryan Maghini) and the second, 7-2.
With the wins, Fordham improves to 4-1 on the year while Iona falls to 0-5.
The Rams opened the first game with a run in the top of the first as Nick Martinez led off the contest with a double and scored on a Ryan David single. Chris Walker singled David to second with no outs but the Rams couldn't push another run across the plate.
Iona knotted the game at one in the bottom of the second when James Beck doubled and scored later in the inning on a Michael Chiaravalloti single.
Both starting pitchers were strong after the second as Fordham starter Brian Pendergast allowed just two runners to reach second over the next five innings while the Rams advanced a runner to third twice over that span. The first Fordham runner to reach third was David, who opened the sixth with a double and moved to third on a ground out but was stranded there. In the Fordham eighth, David was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to third one out later on a wild pick off attempt but Joe Russo couldn't deliver him with the tie-breaking run.
The Rams finally got a pair of runs in the eleventh when Stephen McSherry walked with two outs and Maghini followed with his first home run of the year.
Fordham reliever Tim Swatek made the two runs hold up, giving up a one-out double in the bottom of the inning before recording the final two outs on a strike out and line out.
Swatek picked up the win, throwing four inning of one-hit relief, striking out six, while Pendergast threw the first seven innings, allowing six hits and fanning six. At the plate, Maghini and David each finished with two hits.
In game two, the Rams again jumped out to a quick lead, scoring twice in the top of the first. Martinez opened the game with a walk but was caught stealing. David then walked and Walker moved him to second with a single. One out later, Brian Kownacki doubled to bring in both runners and give Fordham a 2-0 lead.
The Rams increased the lead to 5-0 with a three-run second, with all three runs coming with two outs. Rob McCunney started the rally with a two-out walk and he stole second. Martinez then plated McCunney with a double and walks to David and Walker loaded the bases before Russo delivered Martinez with a single. David would score later in the inning on a wild pitch for a 5-0 Fordham lead.
Iona picked up a run in the home half of the second but the Rams got that one back in the fifth as Russo led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Kownacki ground out.
The Gaels cut the Fordham lead to 6-2 with a run in the eighth but the Rams closed out the scoring in the ninth when David opened the frame with a double, moved to third on a Walker fly out and scored on a wild pitch.
Max Krakowiak threw the first six innings, allowing no hits and striking out six, to pick up his second win of the year. Chris Pike pitched the final three innings, giving up three hits and fanning four to earn his second save.
At the plate, Kownacki drove in three runs while Martinez and Russo each collected two hits.
The two teams will close out the three game series with a single game on Sunday at 12:00 PM.
