March 29, 2012

Fordham-St. Bonaventure Game Notes

Bronx, N.Y. - Following a 9-7 win, the Fordham Rams hit the road for the team's next Atlantic 10 series, as the Rams travel to St. Bonaventure for a three-game set with the Bonnies at Fred Handler Park. It will be an important early conference series after both squads went 1-2 in the opening weekend of A-10 play.

The teams are each coming off tight mid-week contests, as Fordham topped LIU, 9-7, at Houlihan Park on Wednesday, while the Bonnies fell to Canisius, 4-3, on Tuesday.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
Friday - RHP Daniel Munday (1-1) vs. LHP Eddie Gray (2-1) | Live Stats
Saturday - RHP Chris Pike (2-0) vs. RHP Jordan Crane (2-0) | Live Stats
Sunday - RHP Joseph Charest (1-5) vs. RHP Cael Johnson (1-2) | Live Stats

SCOUTING ST. BONAVENTURE: The Bonnies are 9-9 this season, 1-2 in Atlantic 10 conference play. The team is batting .317 this season, while posting a 5.08 ERA.

At the plate, Billy Urban is off to a fantastic start, hitting a team-high .435 with seven doubles, 16 runs scored and 20 RBI. Nick Brennen is also hitting over .400 at .403 with 11 runs scored and 19 RBI, while Ryan Skellie is batting .368 with 10 runs scored and 11 RBI.

On the hill, expect the rotation of LHP Eddie Gray, RHP Jordan Crane, and RHP Cael Johnson to face off against Fordham. Gray is 2-1 this season with a team-best 3.53 ERA in five starts, and has posted 25 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. Crane is 2-0 with a 4.55 ERA and two complete games to his credit. Johnson is tied with Gray for the team-high in strikeouts with 25, while being 1-2 with a 4.37 ERA in four starts.

Jason Radwan pulls double duty for the Bonnies as the team's starting second baseman and closer. He is hitting .316 at the plate, while garnering three saves out of the bullpen.

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Mike Mauri is batting .323 over his last nine games, while collecting two home runs and six RBI... Ryan Lee hit .556 during the Massachusetts series, posting two doubles and three RBI, while Tim Swatek hit .400 for the series (4-10)... The Rams have a 3.72 ERA and an opponent batting average of .234 as a staff over the last five games... Rich Anastasi has a 1.35 ERA over his last four relief appearances... Joseph Charest is 1-1 with a complete game in his last two starts, posting a 2.12 ERA and a .155 opponent batting average in 17.0 innings pitched... Chris Pike is 1-0 in his last two starts with a 2.45 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 14.2 innings pitched... John Porter is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last three appearances to go a .189 opponent batting average.

CLOSING IN: Two of the Fordham seniors are slowly closing in on some career milestones over the coming weeks.

Senior Brian Kownacki is creeping up on 200 games plays and 200 career hits. He currently stands at 180 games played, which is tied for 13th all-time at Fordham, while collecting 191 hits, which is 15th all-time. He is also among the career leaders in triples with 10th, which is tied for eighth on the career list.

Senior Ryan Maghini is also closing in on a milestone of his own, as he closes in on 100 consecutive starts. He has 95 entering this weekend.

UPCOMING GAMES: The Rams are back on the road at St. Bonaventure for a three-game series, March 30-April 1. Fordham then plays at Fairfield on April 3rd at 3:30 PM