Box Score Feb. 17, 2012
Box Score
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Due to incoming weather, the Fordham baseball team opened their season with a doubleheader for only the sixth time in the 152 years of the program, and the first since 2006. Unfortunately, just like the last three, Fordham came up on the short end of both games on Friday, falling to Western Carolina, 9-8 and 6-1, in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Western Carolina got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first inning of game one with a pair of runs. Aaron Attaway led off with a single and scored on a triple to right center by Bradley Strong. Ross Heffley then connected for an RBI-ground out to score Strong for the 2-0 lead.
Fordham answered back in the top of the second inning, when Ryan Maghini connected on a solo home run, the sixth of his career off starter Jordan Smith. Stephen McSherry then ripped a double to right center to keep the rally going. Mike Mauri then singled to left, but McSherry was thrown out trying to score at home.
The Catamounts got that run back in the bottom half of the inning as Tyler White walked, and moved to third on a double by Jacob Hoyle. After a pair of Chris Pike strikeouts, Attaway singled to center, scoring White, but Fordham's Matthew Cianci made a perfect throw home to get Hoyle out at the plate.
Western Carolina made it 5-1 in the bottom of the third, on RBI-singles by Hoyle and Bryant Noteboom, but Fordham kept the damage to just the two runs as this time Fordham's McSherry threw out White at the plate.
The Catamounts tacked on another run in the fourth, making it a 6-1 game on an RBI-single by Julian Ridings.
Fordham closed the gap to 6-2 in the top of the fifth inning, when catcher Zach Small blasted a solo home run, his first as a Ram.
The Rams then made it 6-3 in the top of the sixth, as Maghini reached on an error and scored on a one-out double to right center by Mauri.
The bottom of the sixth brought in Fordham senior pitcher Daniel Munday from the bullpen, as Pike went the first five innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts. The Fordham defense cut down its third runner of the game at the plate with Munday on the hill. With runners at first and third and one out, Heffley took off for second with Attaway going for home. Rob McCunney's throw back home from second base was in time to get Attaway, and keep the score at 6-3.
Fordham kept chipping away at the Catamounts lead in the seventh, as Jeremy Sluder relieved Smith for Western Carolina. Cianci drew a one-out walk for the Rams and advanced to second on a ground out. Ryan Lee then delivered an RBI-single to score Cianci, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
David Judisky was then hit by a pitch with Maghini drawing a walk to load the bases. That walk ended Sluder's day, as the Catamounts brought in Jon Nadale from the bullpen. McSherry was the first batter he faced and Nadale walked him to force in Lee. Mauri continued a torrid game, driving out a two-run double, scoring Judisky and Maghini to give Fordham its first lead of the day, 7-6.
Western Carolina threatened to score in the eighth with runners at first and second with two outs. However, Munday induced a ground ball to McCunney to get Fordham out of the frame still up by one.
The Rams added to their lead in the ninth, as Lee walked to start the inning, followed by a Judisky double. After a ground out, McSherry singled to right, scoring Lee, making it, 8-6. The Rams were primed to continue the rally, but Judisky was caught off third base and eventually tagged out by the catcher, which kept Fordham's lead at two, heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Fordham reliever Jonathan Reich came in for the ninth, where after a walk, a strikeout, and a wild pitch, Hoyle hit a game-tying two-run home run, knotting the score at eight. Cody Jones then singled to left center, which ended Reich's day and brought in Rich Anastasi for the Rams.
Anastasi got the second out of the ninth on a ground out, and then intentionally walked Attaway, who had five hits in the game. A single by Strong loaded the bases, which was followed by the game-winning single by Heffley, scoring Jones.
For Fordham, Mauri led the offense with his first career three-hit game, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI, while McSherry was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Judisky was also 2-for-4 with two doubles with Small going 2-for-3 with a home run in their first action with the Rams.
Reich (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits in a third of an inning. Munday was effective in relief of Pike, throwing three scoreless innings of two-hit ball.
For Western Carolina, Attaway was 5-for-5 with two RBI, while Hoyle was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI. Preston Hatcher (1-0) got the win in relief, giving up one run on three hits in two innings of work.
Game two appeared to start off well for Fordham, as the Rams loaded the bases with one out in the first against Western Carolina's Morgan McKinney. Cianci reached on an error to lead off the inning, and one out later moved to second on a Lee single and to third base on Judisky's hit by pitch. However, Maghini fouled out to first with Cianci trying to score, but the throw beat Cianci to the plate, keeping Fordham off the scoreboard.
After another double play cancelled out a scoring opportunity in the second, the Rams did crack the scoreboard in the fourth for a 1-0 lead. Maghini led off with a single and advanced to third on Mauri's third double of the day. After a walk and two outs, McKinney uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Maghini to score from third.
The score remained in favor of the Rams until the sixth, when Western Carolina put together a five-run rally against Fordham starter Joseph Charest, highlighted by RBI-doubles from Heffley, Hoyle, and Adam Martin.
The Catamounts added an insurance run in the seventh for a 6-1 margin, as Strong singled to right center, stole second, and scored on an RBI-single by Hoyle.
Reliever Vance Chavis kept the Rams in check the rest of the way, pitching three hitless innings of relief with three strikeouts for the save. McKinney (1-0) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits in six innings with nine strikeouts.
For Fordham, Charest (0-1) threw a career-high 6.2 innings in the loss, allowing four earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts. Jeremy Adel (0.1 IP, 1 K) and Dan Sorine (1.0 IP, 1 K) also pitched in relief of Charest.
At the plate, Maghini, Lee, Mauri, Small accounted for one hit apiece.
The Rams will wrap up their series with Western Carolina on Saturday with the game set for 1:00 PM.
