March 2, 2012

Fordham-Quinnipiac Game Notes

Bronx, N.Y. - The Fordham baseball team continues its opening homestand on Friday, when the Rams host Quinnipiac for a doubleheader at Houlihan Park on Friday. This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools, as well as the season opener for the Bobcats. Fordham enters the contest with a 2-5 record after a win over Fairfield on Tuesday.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
Game 1 - Fordham - RHP Chris Pike (0-0) vs. Quinnipiac - RHP - Derek Lamacchia (0-0) | | Watch
Game 2 - Fordham - RHP Jordan Grangard (0-1) vs. Quinnipiac - RHP George Dummar (0-0) | | Watch

SCOUTING QUINNIPIAC: The Bobcats are coached by Dan "Skip" Gooley and head into 2012 following an 18-29 record a year ago. The Bobcats were picked eighth in the Northeast Conference.

Leading the Bobcats in 2012 is senior catcher Kyle Nisson. Nisson was an All-NEC Second Team selection as a junior, batting a team- and career-best .336, while also posting a .399 on-base percentage. Behind the plate, his .973 fielding percentage and 14 base runners thrown-out ranked second among all NEC catchers.

The Bobcats' rotation will feature Anthony Cinelli, George Dummar and Derek Lamacchia. Cinelli was 3-4, while Dummar was 3-7 with 40 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched. Lamacchia led the squad with four wins in his sophomore year, while also posting a team-best 3.41 earned-run average in a team-leading 63 1/3 innings pitched. Lamacchia also led the team with 47 strikeouts. Nick Fabrizio earned two starts as a freshman and will be looked on to contribute on the mound for the Bobcats. Senior Matthew Siciliano led all Bobcat relievers with a 4.00 ERA in 14 appearances, while striking out 19 batters in 18 innings pitched.

WE"RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Junior Ryan Lee takes a seven-game hit streak into this weekend's play, tying his career-high... Transfer Zach Small has had an immediate impact at the plate for the Rams, hitting .389 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI in his first six games as a Ram... Mike Mauri has six RBI over the first seven games of the season. Prior to this year, he had three career RBI... Senior Daniel Munday has a solid opening to 2012, posting a 1.42 ERA in 12.2 innings of work, which includes throwing a career-long 8.2 innings against Fairfield with a career-high eight strikeouts... Despite taking two losses, junior Joseph Charest has also pitched well, setting career-long pitching efforts in each of his first two games to go with a 3.29 ERA and seven strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

CONNECTIN' ON THE LONG BALL: A rare occurrence took place during the Rams' home opening game against Fairfield.

Through the entire 2011 season, Fordham managed to hit just one home run at home all season long, which came off the bat of Ryan Lee against St. Bonaventure.

Against Fairfield, the Rams doubled that total, as both Ryan Maghini and David Judisky went deep in a 5-3 win over the Stags. For Maghini, it was his second of the season, while being the first career home run for Judisky.

UPCOMING GAMES: The Rams continue a six-game homestand with a doubleheader against Hofstra on Sunday, March 4th, beginning at noon.