March 1, 2011

Fordham Baseball Game Notes | Watch |

Bronx, N.Y. - The Fordham baseball team looks to improve on one of its best starts in recent memory on Wednesday, when the Rams have their 2011 home opener against the Manhattan College Jaspers at Houlihan Park.

The Rams have won five in a row after dropping the season opener on February 18th, and put that streak up against one of its longtime rivals.

Since 1923, the Rams and Jaspers have played each other over 100 times with Fordham holding a 76-23-3 lead in the series over that time. The rivalry has seen many a games in a variety of locations, including contests in Palm Beach, Florida and the original version of Yankee Stadium.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
RHP John Flanagan (0-0) vs. LHP Matt Jordan (0-0) |

SCOUTING MANHATTAN: Manhattan opened its 2011 season last weekend against Western Carolina, posting a 1-2 mark in its opening series. The offense already seemed in mid-form for the Jaspers, as the team hit .321 overall, with five home runs and 22 runs scored.

Leading the way offensively, was Chad Salem, who hit .417 (5-12) with four runs scored, two home runs, and seven RBI. Mark Onorati hit .500 (6-12) in his opening weekend, scoring four runs and dirving in four.

On the hill for Manhattan, the probable starter for Wednesday is Matt Jordan, a 6-3 junior left handed pitcher. He has yet to appear in a game in 2011, but last year appeared in three games, posting a 1-1 record with a 16.20 ERA. Out of the bullpen, Taylor Sewitt recorded a save and a loss in relief in the opening weekend series against Western Carolina.

LAST TIME OUT: Fordham's Ryan Maghini hit a two-run home run to win the series opener against Iona in extra innings. On Sunday, Maghini was at it again going 4-for-4 with a home run, while Stephen McSherry had the go-ahead two-run triple in the eighth, as the Rams completed a three-game sweep of Iona Gaels with a 10-9 victory.

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Moving from third base to shortstop, Ryan Maghini is hitting .360 (9-25) over his first six games to go with five runs scored, three doubles, and two home runs... Nick Martinez is batting .333 (8-24) to open the season, scoring six runs and having a team-best .407 on base percentage... Chris Walker has a nine-game hitting streak, dating back to last season. He has a .304 batting average in 2011 to go with two home run and a team-best eight RBI... Joe Russo (.320 - 8-for-25) and Alex Kenny (.318 - 7-for-22) are also over the .300 mark through the first six games of the season... On the hill, Max Krakowiak is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .083... Chris Pike has two saves in three appearances out of the bullpen to go with a 1.12 ERA and .200 opponent batting average... Brian Pendergast has a 1.42 ERA in two starts, posting 10 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.

PICHING & DEFENSE: The old baseball moniker of pitching and defense wins ball games has come true so far in 2001 for the Fordham Rams.

With a 5-1 record, the Fordham pitching staff boasts a 2.95 ERA, three saves, and an opponent batting average of .265. The Rams also have 56 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched, compared to 23 walks.

Defensively, the Rams are at a .975 fielding percentage, having committed six errors in six games.

For comparison, the Rams had a 7.58 ERA through six games last year to go with 38 walks to 36 strikeouts, while defensively, Fordham had eight errors and a .964 fielding percentage.

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

The Rams then return home for a Tuesday afternoon game against New York Tech on March 8th at 3:00 PM, before traveling to Charleston Southern for a four-game series, March 11-14.