Box Score March 4, 2011
Box Score
Winston Salem, N.C. -
Behind a 14-hit barrage and a superb pitching performance from Brian Pendergast and Chris Pike, the Fordham baseball team posted its seventh straight win with a 5-3 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Gene Hooks Field in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
With the win, Fordham improves to 7-1 on the year, while Wake Forest falls to 4-5.
Fordham got the offense rolling immediately in the top of the first inning with three runs in the opening frame. Nick Martinez got things going, as he reached on an error, and then immediately scored on an RBI-double by Ryan David. After a pop out, Joe Russo reached on an infield single with David taking third, which was followed by an RBI-single by Brian Kownacki. Ryan Lee followed with the Rams' third straight hit, which Russo tried to score on, but was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Alex Kenny however cashed in with an RBI-single to score Kownacki for a 3-0 lead.
Wake Forest rallied back for two runs in the bottom of the frame, as Matt Conway connected for a two-run home run to left center, his third of the season, scoring James Harris, who reached on an error.
The Rams extended their lead to 4-2 in the fourth, as
Ryan Maghini led off the inning with a single.
Rob McCunney followed with a double to left. With the relay throw coming in on McCunney's double, there was a baserunning miscommunication, as both Fordham runners headed to third. The lead runner, Maghini, then turned around and ran for home. The throw to the plate by the Wake Forest infielder however was off-line, allowing Maghini to score.
The Demon Deacons closed back within one, 4-3, in the sixth, as Steven Brooks connected for a solo home run, his third of the year.
Fordham regained a two-run edge at 5-3 in the ninth on a solo home run to left by Maghini to lead off the frame, his team-leading third of the year.
Fordham reliever Chris Pike took on the heart of the Wake Forest order in the bottom of the ninth, allowing a two-out hit, but did strike out the side to close out Fordham's seventh straight win.
Fordham starter Brian Pendergast (1-1) posted his first win of the season, allowing just one earned run on five hits in six innings of work, while striking out four. Pike recorded his team-leading third save of the season, throwing three innings of two-relief with a season-high six strikeouts.
At the plate, Fordham doubled up Wake Forest, 14-7, in the hits category, led by sophomore Ryan Lee, who had his first three-hit game of the season. Maghini was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a home run, while McCunney, David and Russo each had a pair of hits.
The Fordham baseball team continues their stay in Winston Salem on Saturday, March 5th, as schedule has been changed. Fordham will play Radford as originally scheduled at 10:00 AM, but the Rams will also play Towson at 1:30 PM, as there is a threat of inclement weather on Sunday.
