Box Score May 13, 2011
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
In a recurring Friday the 13th theme, the Fordham-Massachusetts series opener went to extra innings, as both sides would go into the bench to decide the game. In the end, Massachusetts would load the bases in the 11th, and force in a run on a hit by pitch to take the opener, 5-4, at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Massachusetts.
With the loss, Fordham goes to 29-20 overall, 10-9 in the Atlantic 10, while UMass improves to 16-26 on the year, 7-12 in the league.
The Minutemen grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the first inning, as Anthony Serino led off with a single, moved to third on a pair of outs, and scored on a double down the left field line by Kyle Multner.
Massachusetts made it 2-0 in the third, when Matt Gedman hit a solo home run, his fifth of the season.
Fordham cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth, as Ryan Lee led off with a double to right center. After a pair of outs and an infield single by Ryan David, Brian Kownacki singled through the right side, scoring Lee, to make it, 2-1.
The Rams then knotted the game at two in the fifth. Ryan Maghini connected for a one-out single, and moved to second on an infield single by Nick Martinez. Lee then plated Maghini with a single to right field, tying the game at two with his third hit of the game.
Fordham then grabbed a 4-2 lead in the seventh, as Martinez did the damage this time.
Stephen McSherry started the rally, reaching first base on an error and moving to second on a ground out. Maghini singled McSherry to third, which was followed by a two-run double by Martinez.
Massachusetts would put together a ninth inning rally against Fordham reliever Tim Swatek to tie the game at four and force extra innings. Tom Conley led off with a double and was pinch run for by Rob McLam. Multner then drew a walk, followed by a Nik Campero bunt single, where the throw went wild, allowing McLam to score and make it, 4-3. Pinch-hitter Peter Copa then lifted a fly ball to left, which McSherry made a diving catch, allowing just Multner to score on the sacrifice fly. Martinez, who came in to relieve Swatek, then got back-to-back strikeouts, pushing the game into extra innings.
The score remained tied at four until the bottom of the 11th, where the Minutemen scored the game-winning run without a ball leaving the infield. Multner was hit by a pitch with one out, and moved to second on a ground out. After an intentional walk, Nick Sanford lined a singled off Martinez to load the bases. Rich Graef was then hit by a 0-1 pitch, which forced in the winning run.
Fordham starter Brian Pendergast was stellar in a no-decision, posting seven innings of five-hit ball, allowing two runs with five strikeouts. Marintez (1-2) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in 2.2 innings of relief with three strikeouts. He also was 2-for-5 at the plate with a double and two RBI.
Beside Martinez, Lee was 4-for-5, tying a career-high with four hits, while Maghini was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
UMass reliever Leif Sorenson earned the win in relief, allowing one hit in two innings, while start Glen Misho allowed three earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts in nine innings of work.
The same two teams will match up for game two of this series at 1:00 PM on Saturday.
