May 6, 2011
Fordham Baseball Game Notes | WFUV Audio | Watch
Bronx, N.Y.. - The Fordham baseball team opens a three-game Atlantic 10 series tonight at Houlihan Park against the Saint Joseph's Hawks. Game one's start time, which was slated for 7:00 PM tonight, has been moved up an hour to 6:00 PM due to the weather forecast.
Fordham hopes the friendly home confines will see the Rams return to form after a 2-4 road stretch in conference play the last two weekends.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Friday - Fordham - RHP Brian Pendergast (2-5) vs. SjU - RHP - Kyle Mullen (4-5) | 
Saturday - Fordham - RHP Chris Pike (4-1) vs. SJU - RHP Chad Simendinger (2-6) |
Sunday - Fordham - RHP Max Krakowiak (4-5) vs. SJU - RHP A.J. Holland (1-7) |
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S: The Hawks are 14-28 this season, 5-10 in the Atlantic 10.
The Hawks have had a rough run offensivley as of late, posting only four runs total in their last five games. The team is batting .240 on the season, despite the red-hot hitting of Greg Kumpel this season. Kumpel is batting a team-best .388 with 11 doubles and 21 RBI. Kevin Taylor also has 21 RBI this season to tie for the team lead, while Brett Tiagwad leads the squad with 13 stolen bases.
On the hill, the Hawks will throw three right handed pitchers against Fordham in Kyle Mullen, Chad Simendinger, and A.J. Holland. Mullen is 4-5 with a 3.12 ERA and leads the Hawks with 49 strikeouts. Simendinger is 2-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts, while Holland is 1-7 with a 6.09 ERA.
WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Nick Martinez is hitting .324 (11-34) over his last nine games, posting eight runs scored, four RBI and two steals... Chris Walker is batting .303 (10-33) in his last nine games with five RBI... On the hill, Chris Pike has three saves and a 5-1 record in 13 appearances to go with a 2.22 ERA, 56 strikeouts, and .230 opponent batting average... Rich Anastasi is 5-0 in 18 appearances, posting a 1.78 ERA and 30 strikeouts... Tim Swatek has 23 strikeouts, four saves, and a 2.28 ERA in 27.2 innings of work to open the year, and is currently on an nine-game hitting streak, in which he is batting .296 in that stretch... Jonathan Reich gave up his first earned run of the season on April 30th, in 24.1 innings of relief, giving him a 0.37 ERA, while posting a 3-0 record.
SHUTTING THE DOOR: One of the biggest reason for the Rams success this season has been the development of the Fordham bullpen into one of the best in the Atlantic 10.
In 2010, the Rams' bullpen sat with a 8-12 record and six saves at this point in the season with a 5.45 ERA and a .286 opponent batting average.
This season has been a much different story with the bullpen having a 15-2 record and 11 saves with a 3.08 ERA and opponent batting average of .242, a difference of close to three runs less per game and 50 points less in batting average.
In addition, the Rams had just one relief pitcher, Jordan Grangard, end the season with an ERA of 2.45 of less with at least five relief appearances. This season, Fordham has an amazing six pitchers, Jonathan Reich, Nick Martinez, Chris Pike, Dan Sorine, Rich Anastasi, and Tim Swatek, that fit those standards.
UPCOMING GAMES: Following this weekend, the Rams get back to the road after exams with a three-game set at Massachusetts from May 13-15. Fordham then returns to local action with a road game at Seton Hall on May 17th, and then conclude the regular season May 19th-21st at home against Xavier.
