Box Score March 7, 2012
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Bronx, N.Y. -
Despite a season-high 13 hits offensively, the Fordham Rams also saw a season-high four errors cost them in Wednesday's tilt with Albany. In the end, it was Gordon Madej's RBI-single in the top of the tenth inning that proved to be the difference for the Great Danes, as they edged the Rams, 7-6, at Houlihan Park.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 4-8, while Albany moves to 1-6.
Both teams scored in the first inning, using extra-base hits to do the damage. Albany's Nolan Gaige hit a solo home run to right center in the top of the first, while Fordham's Brian Kownacki hit a one-out triple to right center and scored on Ryan Lee's infield single.
The Great Danes went ahead 3-1 in the second, as Albany received a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly for the two runs.
Fordham cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third, when Matthew Cianci was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on Lee's second RBI-single of the game.
The Rams then grabbed a 4-3 lead in the fifth. Stephen McSherry led off with a single and Zach Small was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt by Brendan Maghini, Cianci plated McSherry with a sacrifice fly to left. Kownacki followed with an RBI-single to left, scoring Small for the lead.
That lead held until the seventh, as Albany took advantage of two failed pickoff attempts to score three times for a 6-4 lead. Madej led off with a single, and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt by Fordham pitcher Daniel Munday. Joey Tracy connected for a triple to right center, scoring Madej, tying the game at four. Gaige then drew a walk, which brought Munday's day to a close.
Rams' reliever Jonathan Reich then threw another pickoff attempt away, scoring another Albany run with Gaige going to third. After a strikeout, the Rams were ready to intentionally walk Mike Tirri, who already had three hits in the game. The first pitch went wild though, allowing Gaige to score for a two-run lead.
Fordham battled back in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at six. With one out, Cianci reached on a bunt single and stole second. Kownacki followed with an RBI-single to right, scoring Cianci, but the ball was misplayed by the right fielder, allowing Kownacki to reach second. After a ground out pushed Kownacki to third, Ryan Maghini drove a single up the middle to score Kownacki and tie the game.
The Rams looked primed to win the game in the bottom of the ninth, as Cianci opened with a single and was sacrificed to second. Lee then poked a single through the left side, but Cianci was only able to reach third. After an intentional walk to Maghini loaded the bases with one out, Albany reliever Greg Lutton got Tim Swatek to hit a ground ball to second, which Brian Bullard threw home to force Cianci out at the plate. Lutton then got Mauri to fly out to right to end the threat and force extra innings.
In the tenth, Albany's Josh Nethaway reached on a single to right, bringing Vincent Martorelli to the plate. Martorelli laid down a bunt, but the throw from third got away from the Rams, putting runners at first and third. Madej then singled to center, scoring Nethaway for a 7-6 lead.
Lutton (1-0) then retired the Rams in order in the bottom of the tenth on three fly balls to record the win. He threw 3.2 innings of relief, allowing four hits with two strikeouts. Madej finished 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Tirri was 3-for-4 with a double.
Fordham's Rich Anastast (2-1) took the loss in relief, allowing one unearned run on three hits with four strikeouts. Starter Daniel Munday went the first six innings allowing three earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts, with Reich giving up one hit over two innings of work.
At the plate, Kownacki was 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and two RBI, while Lee was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Cianci added two hits, two runs scored, and two stolen bases with Mauri and McSherry each having a pair of hits.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Friday, March 9th, when the Rams begin a three-game series at Florida International, beginning at 7:00 PM.
