April 19, 2011

Fordham Baseball Game Notes | WFUV Audio | Watch

Bronx, N.Y. - The Fordham-Iona baseball game time today has been changed to a 4:00 PM start, from its original 7:00 PM start, due to threat of incoming weather.

The Fordham baseball team looks finish its eight-game homestand in style on Tuesday, as the team takes a five-game win streak into a match-up with local rival Iona College. The two teams met earlier this season with Fordham sweeping a three-game series from the Gaels down in Asheboro, North Carolina, back in February.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
Fordham - RHP Brian Thompson (1-0) vs. Iona - RHP - Stephen Bianchi (0-2) |

SCOUTING IONA: After beginning the season at 0-6, the Gaels have gone 12-15 since March 1st, and have a 4-8 record in the MAAC. The team is batting .274, led by Chris Burke at .356 this season to go with 28 runs scored, 11 doubles, six home runs, and 27 RBI. James Beck has also put together a strong season, hitting .347 with a team-high 17 doubles to go with four home runs and 26 RBI.

On the mound, the Gaels have a 5.88 ERA and a .303 opponent batting average. Iona will probably send RHP Stephen Bianchi to the mound against the Rams. He is 0-2 in four starts with an 11.17 ERA in 9.2 innings of work.

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Chris Walker has caught fire as of late with a 15-game hitting streak that was snapped on Sunday. Over that streak, he hit .431 (28-65) with 12 runs scored, seven doubles, and 11 RBI... Ryan Maghini has a career-long 10-game hitting streak, going into this week. He is hitting .359 in that stretch (14-39) with six runs scored and nine RBI... Tim Swatek is batting .346 over his last nine games (9-26) with six runs scored and five RBI... Rich Anastasi is 4-0 in 13 appearances, posting a 1.71 ERA and 26 strikeouts... Jonathan Reich has still yet to allow an earned run in 18.1 innings of relief.

BREAKING THE "WINS" BARRIER: With the Rams' road win against New York Tech on April 6th, Fordham has won nine road contests this season, which matched their road win total for the entire 2010 season.

Meanwhile, the Rams posted their 22nd win of the season on April 17th, already surpassing last year's total, and matching the 2009 win total.

UPCOMING GAMES: Following today's game, the Rams hit the road for seven of their next eight games. The Rams head to Charlotte for a three-game Atlantic 10 series from April 22-24, before returning home for a 4:00 PM against Columbia on April 27th. Fordham then returns to the road for a three-game set at Saint Louis (Apr. 29-May 1) and a mid-week game at Manhattan on May 3rd.