Box Score April 23, 2011
Box Score
Charlotte, N.C. -
In another tight match-up between Fordham and #28 Charlotte, it was the 49ers on Saturday using some late-inning heroics, as Ross Steedley plated Tony Montalbano with a sacrifice fly to give Charlotte a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Fordham at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
The loss snaps Fordham's seven-game win streak, dropping the Rams to 24-14 on the season, 7-4 in the Atlantic 10, while Charlotte improves to 30-9 overall, 10-4 in the league.
The Rams got the scoring started in the first inning, tallying three runs in the opening stanza. Ryan David drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a double by Chris Walker. David would score on an RBI-ground out by Ryan Lee to give Fordham a 1-0 lead. Brian Kownacki then drilled a two-run home run to left for a 3-0 lead, his first home run of the season.
Fordham made it 4-0 in the top of the second with some more two-out magic. Joe Russo led off the inning with a double down the left field line, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on an RBI-single by Martinez.
The 49ers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the frame, cutting the Fordham lead to 4-3. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single by Miguel Rodriguez and a sacrifice fly by Justin Wilson.
Fordham bounced back with a run in the fifth inning, extending the lead back to two, 5-3. After back-to-back doubles by Stephen McSherry and Ryan Maghini put runners at second and third, McSherry scored on a ground out by Martinez.
Charlotte cut the lead back to one in the sixth at 5-4 on a solo home run by Cory Tilton, his second of the season.
The Rams held onto that lead, heading into the ninth, but Charlotte got the leadoff man on, as Shane Basen singled through the left side, which brought on Martinez in to pitch for Fordham. Tony Montalbano would take the second offering from Martinez into the right center gap for an RBI-triple, tying the game at five. After a hit batsman, pinch-hitter Ross Steedley fouled out to second base, but the play was deep enough to score Montalbano from third, giving Charlotte the walk off win.
Fordham starter Chris Pike earned a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on five hits in 6.2 innings of work. Rich Anastasi, Tim Swatek, and Martinez rounded out the Rams pitching with Martinez taking the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season.
At the plate, Martinez was 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Kownacki was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. David also had a hit in the ball game, extending his hit streak to a career-high nine games.
The same two teams will meet in the rubber game of this series on Sunday, beginning at noon.
