March 8, 2011

Fordham Baseball Game Notes | Watch | WFUV Audio

Bronx, N.Y. - The Fordham baseball team returns to the friendly confines of Houlihan Park for a mid-week match-up against a very familiar opponent in the New York Tech Bears. Last year, the two squads met a total of four times with Fordham winning three at home, while New York Tech took the finale up in Old Westbury, N.Y.

Overall however, the Bears have a slight edge in the all-time series at 32-29-2. Since 2004, Fordham is 12-4 against New York Tech.

Probable Starters:
RHP John Flanagan (1-0) vs. RHP Ryan Dillabough (0-0) |

SCOUTING NEW YORK TECH: The Bears opened their season this past weekend in Charleston, South Carolina, dropping all three games against #25 Auburn, Western Kentucky, and #18 College of Charleston. New York Tech was outscored by a 47-8 count.

Offensively, the Bears are once again led by infielder Effrey Valdez, who opened his season with a 7-for-14 weekend and three RBI.

On the hill, the Bears allowed a 14.04 ERA and a .375 batting average to their opponents. The most effective pitcher last weekend was John Duggan, who threw 4.2 innings of one-hit relief with three strikeouts.

LAST TIME OUT: A late eighth inning rally by the Radford Highlanders snapped the Fordham baseball team's seven-game win streak on Saturday, however the Rams rallied back for a 16-9 win over the Towson Tigers in the second game of the day, as Fordham improved its record to 8-2 on the season.

In the opening game of the day, Radford's Zach Costello hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to squeeze out a 5-4 victory over the Rams, ending Fordham's win streak at seven.

For Fordham, starter Max Krakowiak received a no-decision, as he went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts. Tim Swatek (1-1) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in one inning of work. At the plate, Brian Kownacki was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while Ryan Lee was 3-for-4 with a run scored.

In game two of the day, the Rams put on an offensive clinic scoring 16 runs on 17 hits, led by Chris Walker, who was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI, to defeat the Towson Tigers, 16-9.

Fordham reliever Jonathan Reich (1-0) got credit for the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, as seven pitchers were used in the game by the Rams. Besides Walker, Stephen McSherry was 3-for-5 with four RBI, while Swatek drove in three. Kownacki and Lee each had two hits and three runs scored with Joe Russo and Nick Martinez each having a pair of hits.

Ryan Lee NAMED ATLANTIC 10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK (3/7): Fordham University sophomore outfielder Ryan Lee (Attleboro, Mass./Bishop Feehan) was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week by the conference office. It is his second career weekly honor, having received Rookie of the Week honors once last year.

Lee put together an incredible week, hitting .714 (10-14) with four runs scored, two doubles, and three RBI, as Fordham went 3-1 on the week. Currently riding a five-game hit streak, he posted a .778 on-base percentage and .857 slugging percentage, recorded four multi-hit games, including three-hit contests against Wake Forest and Radford and tied a career-high with three runs scored against Towson.

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Sophomore Ryan Lee, who was named A-10 Player of the Week on Monday, is hitting .611 (11-18) over his first five games of the season... Moving from third base to shortstop, Ryan Maghini is hitting .317 (13-41) over his first 10 games to go with nine runs scored, three doubles, and three home runs... Joe Russo has fit nicely into the designated hitter role, abtting .350 (14-40) over his first 10 games to go with nine runs scored... Nick Martinez is batting .300 (12-40) to open the season, scoring 10 runs... Chris Walker has a .316 batting average in 2011 to go with two home runs and a team-best 12 RBI... Brian Kownacki is a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts to go with eight runs scored and eight RBI in 10 games... On the hill, Max Krakowiak is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings with 22 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .136... Chris Pike has three saves in four appearances out of the bullpen to go with a 0.83 ERA, 14 strikeouts, and .220 opponent batting average... Brian Pendergast has a 1.45 ERA in three starts, posting 14 strikeouts and a 1-1 record in 18.2 innings.

UPCOMING GAMES: Following today's game, the Rams travel to Charleston Southern for a four-game series, March 11-14, and then head to Campbell for a single game on March 16th. The Rams then return to local action as the team participates at the Strike Out Cancer Tournament, hosted at Seton Hall, March 18th-20th.