March 4, 2011
Fordham Baseball Game Notes
Winston Salem, N.C. -
The Fordham baseball team looks to improve on one of its best starts in recent memory this weekend, when the Rams head to Winston Salem, North Carolina for three games.
The Rams take on Wake Forest (4-4) on Friday at 4:00 PM, Radford (3-4) at 10:00 AM on Saturday, and Towson (3-4) on Sunday at noon.
Probable Starters:
Friday - Fordham vs. Wake Forest - RHP Brian Pendergast (0-1) vs. LHP Austin Stadler (0-1) | 
Saturday - Fordham vs. Radford - RHP Max Krakowiak (2-0) vs. RHP Mark Peterson (0-1) |
Sunday - Fordham (home) vs. Towson - RHP Jeremy Adel (0-0) vs. RHP Brandon Gonnella (1-0)|
LAST TIME OUT: One of the oldest and longest rivalries in college baseball was renewed once again on Wednesday between Fordham and Manhattan. The cold and blustery day at Houlihan Park could not stop the Rams, as Ryan Lee and Chris Walker each drove in a pair of runs to extend Fordham's win streak to six with an 8-6 win over the Jaspers.
Fordham improved to 6-1 on the season, while Manhattan falls to 1-3. Since 1923, Fordham is 77-23-3 against Jaspers, and have won five of the last seven meetings.
Fordham starting pitcher John Flanagan (1-0) recorded the win, throwing the first four innings of the game, allowing one earned run on six hits, while Tim Swatek posted his first career save, pitching the final three innings, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts. John Porter (1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER) and Ryan DeMartino (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) also pitched in relief for the Rams.
At the plate, Ryan Lee was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Chris Walker was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Ryan David also had a pair of hits with Nick Martinez and Joe Russo each scoring two runs.
WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Moving from third base to shortstop, Ryan Maghini is hitting .345 (10-29) over his first seven games to go with six runs scored, three doubles, and two home runs... Nick Martinez is batting .308 (8-26) to open the season, scoring eight runs and having a team-best .438 on base percentage... Chris Walker has a 10-game hitting streak, dating back to last season. He has a .308 batting average in 2011 to go with two home runs and a team-best 10 RBI... Joe Russo (.321 - 9-for-28) and Alex Kenny (.320 - 8-for-25) are also over the .300 mark through the first seven 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... Tim Swatek has 13 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA in nine innings of work to open the year.
PITCHING & 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 6-1 record, the Fordham pitching staff boasts a 3.09 ERA, three saves, and an opponent batting average of .277. The Rams also have 61 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched, compared to 26 walks.
Defensively, the Rams are at a .976 fielding percentage, having committed seven errors in seven games.
For comparison, the Rams had a 6.18 ERA through seven games last year to go with 40 walks to 47 strikeouts, while defensively, Fordham had 10 errors and a .964 fielding percentage.
MOVING UP RANKS: With the quick 6-1 start for the Rams, head coach Nick Restaino has moved into fifth on the Fordham baseball coaching wins list. He now has 171, following the Manhattan game on March 2nd, passing Dan Rinaldo for fifth all-time.
UPCOMING GAMES: Following this weekend, the Rams 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.
