Box Score April 11, 2012
Final Stats
Bronx, N.Y. -
Playing his former team for the first time, Fordham baseball coach Kevin Leighton saw his current Rams ahead, 5-4 on Wednesday against his old team, the Manhattan Jaspers. However, a couple of crazy Van Cortlandt Park hops in the ninth inning, snatched the game from the Rams, as the Jaspers scored twice to win the game, 6-5.
The loss drops Fordham to 14-20 overall, while Manhattan improved to 14-17.
Fordham opened the scoring in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs. Zach Small drew a one-out walk, and came home on a two-run home run to right by Tim Swatek, his third of the season.
The Rams then flashed some leather in the bottom of third to keep the two-run lead. With a runner on third and one out, Ryan Maghini made a great pick and throw home from shortstop to get the runner trying to score from third. Small then eliminated another base runner trying to steal second to end the frame.
Fordham added to the lead in the top of the fourth with two more runs. Maghini started the rally with a one-out single and stole second. Stephen McSherry then lifted a double to right center, just out of the reach of the Manhattan outfielder, scoring Maghini. Brian Kownacki followed with an infield single, where the throw was low and got past the first baseman, allowing McSherry to score.
Manhattan knotted the game at four in the bottom of the fifth using the long ball, as both Anthony Vega and Kyle Murphy hit two-run home runs to right field and left center, respectively.
Fordham regained the lead in the top of seventh inning, as the Jaspers walked McSherry, Kownacki, and Small to load the bases with no outs.
Joseph Calabrese then lined a shot to left that was trapped by the outfielder, allowing McSherry to score on a single. However, due to some baserunning confusion on the trap, the Jaspers got two outs on the play, leaving Fordham with a 5-4 lead by inning's end.
The Rams held the lead going into the ninth with their closer, Jeremy Adel, on the mound. After getting the first out, Yoandry Galan chopped a hit to left, just over the outstretched glove of Maghini. The ball then took another crazy hop in the outfield and got by McSherry, rolling all the way to the wall. Galan circled the bases and scored on the error, tying the game at five. Nick Camastro doubled to right center, and then scored on a single from Murphy to end the game.
Adel (2-2) was the hard luck loser, giving up two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of work. Starting pitcher John Porter went the first five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with Rich Anastasi posting two scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
At the plate, McSherry was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Swatek was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Friday, April 13th, when the Rams begin a three-game conference series at Dayton, beginning at 3:00 PM.
