Box Score March 26, 2011
Box Score
Philadelphia, Pa. -
Behind a superb pitching performance from Chris Pike and a 13-hit barrage, the Fordham baseball team evened its series with the La Salle Explorers with a 5-3 come from behind win at Hank Devincent Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The win improved Fordham's record to 13-9 overall, 1-1 in the Atlantic 10.
Like yesterday's game Fordham's starting pitching was again the story, as freshman Chris Pike made his first collegiate start. However, things did not start out great as the Explorers opened a 2-0 lead in the first. La Salle loaded the bases with two outs, and got back-to-back RBI-singles from Marc Schoch and Kevin Jones for the two-run edge.
Fordham then tied the game at two with a pair of runs in the fourth. Ryan David connected for a two-out double to left to start the rally, and scored on an RBI-single by Ryan Lee. Lee then came home on an RBI-double down the line by Joe Russo.
La Salle took the lead right back in the bottom of the frame, as Dan Klem walked, stole second, and scored on a double by Jon Gyles.
The Rams quickly tied the game again in the fifth, as Nick Martinez singled to left, moved to second on a balk, and scored on a single by Brian Kownacki.
Fordham then grabbed the lead at 4-3 in the sixth as David, Lee, and Russo reeled off three straight singles with David scoring on Russo's single.
The Rams added an insurance run in the ninth, as Chris Walker blasted a solo home run to right, his third of the season.
Pike (3-0) was in control for the entire game, retiring the last 16 batters in order, allowing three runs on six hits with a season-high 10 strikeouts in the first complete game of his career, and the second straight by a Fordham pitcher. The last time Fordham had back-to-game complete games was on May 1st and 2nd of 2009, when J.P. Mack and John Flanagan threw consecutive complete games against Rhode Island.
At the plate, eight of the nine starters had at least one hit in the game, led by Russo, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while David was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Martinez, Kownacki, and Lee also had two-hit games for the Rams.
The same two teams will match-up on Sunday for the rubber game of this series at 1:00 PM.
