March 24, 2011

Fordham Baseball Game Notes

Philadelphia, Pa. - This weekend begins Atlantic 10 Conference play with the Fordham Rams traveling to La Salle for a three-game series starting on Friday. Both squads have put up similar numbers of the first 20 games of the season with identical 12-8 records.

As of late, however, La Salle comes in with the hot hand with an eight-game win streak, while Fordham has hit a lull with losses in four of its last five games.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
Friday - RHP Brian Pendergast (1-3) vs. RHP Kevin Fuqua (1-3) |
Saturday - RHP Max Krakowiak (2-2) vs. LHP Eric Van Wyk (1-0) |
Sunday - RHP Chris Pike (2-0) vs. RHP Cody Weiss (3-2) |

SCOUTING LA SALLE: The Explorers are 12-8 this season, and have won eight straight games, which corresponds with some stellar pitching. The team has a 3.57 ERA, while holding opponents to a .268 batting average. La Salle with throw RHP Kevin Fuqua (1-3, 3.98 ERA), LHP Eric Van Wyk (1-0, 2.38 ERA), and RHP Cody Weiss (3-2, 6.57 ERA) as their rotation this weekend, with Pat Christensen in the closer role. He is 1-0 with four saves and a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings.

At the plate, Adam Kammler is their top hitter at .375 with 10 runs scored, while Marc Schoch is batting .368 with eight doubles and 13 RBI. Jeff Flax has a .325 batting average with six doubles and 14 RBI with Jon Gyles posting a team-high 16 RBI.

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Ryan David is batting .333 (10-27) over his last eight games with three runs scored and two RBI... Joe Russo had his eight-game hit streak snapped last Wednesday, but began a new one over the weekend, having at least one hit in each game at the Rawlings Strike Out Cancer Tournament. He was named to the All-Tournament team, after hitting .455 in the tournament... Brian Kownacki hit .294 (10-34) over the eight-game spring break road trip, posting two triples, six RBI, and seven stolen bases... Nick Martinez is hitting .359 (14-39) over his last ten games with 10 runs scored, two home runs, and six RBI, while on the mound, he pitched a career-long four innings of relief in the series finale win over Charleston Southern... On the hill, Chris Pike has three saves and a 2-0 record in seven appearances out of the bullpen to go with a 1.50 ERA, 26 strikeouts, and .214 opponent batting average... Rich Anastasi is 3-0 in eight appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 2.79 ERA and 14 strikeouts... Tim Swatek has 14 strikeouts and a 3.55 ERA in 12.2 innings of work to open the year.

WHEELIN' & STEALIN': In Fordham's March 20th game against NJIT, the Rams racked up 13 stolen bases en route to a 7-6 extra-inning win over the Highlanders. It was almost a deja vu game, as the Rams had 12 stolen bases against the same NJIT Highlanders back in 2008.

The 13 stolen bases were the most by the Rams since they swiped 14 bags on April 11, 2001 against Wagner.

Individually, Brian Kownacki had a career-high four stolen bases in the game, with Ryan Maghini, Tim Swatek, and Matt DeSilva each having two. Chris Walker, Joe Russo, and Ryan Lee rounded out the total with one theft each.

Kownacki's four steals were the most by a Rams since Danny Leach stole four bases against Richmond on May 9, 2009.

UPCOMING GAMES: Following this weekend's series, the Rams have a road match-up with Fairfield on March 29th, before a home game against Massachusetts on April 2nd, as well as a doubleheader versus Albany on April 3rd.