Box Score April 18, 2012
Box Score
Hempstead, N.Y. -
Despite nine runs and 13 hits on offense, the Fordham Rams dropped a wild affair to the Hofstra Pride, 14-9, at University Field in Hempstead, New York. Hofstra also connected for 13 hits and were led by Kevin Flynn, who drove in a game-high five runs.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 15-24 overall, while Hofstra improved to 20-15.
Hofstra opened the scoring in the first with a pair of runs. Dalton Rouleau opened with a single and stole second. After a walk to Matt Ford, Hofstra tried a double steal, but Ryan Phelan threw out Ford for the second out of the inning. However, Jared Hammer and Kenny Jackson followed with back-to-back doubles to give the Pride a 2-0 lead.
Fordham quickly tied the game up in the top of the second, as Ryan Lee led off with a double down the left field line. Mike Mauri drew a walk, which was followed by an RBI-single by Stephen McSherry, extending his hit streak to a career-high nine games. Lee scored on the play with Mauri moving to third. The Rams later scored on a first and third steal with McSherry scoring.
Hofstra regained the lead at 5-3 with a three-run second inning, using the long ball. Bryan Verbitsky hit a solo home run to right, while Danny Poma hit a two-run home run to left.
The Rams quickly knotted the game at five with three runs in the third, taking advantage of some wildness by Hofstra starter John Schilt. Matthew Cianci began the rally with a one-out double, and scored on a pair of wild pitches. Schilt then walked Ryan Maghini, Lee, and Mauri to load the bases, which ended Schilt's day. Fordham followed with a sacrifice fly by McSherry and an RBI-single by Brian Kownacki off reliever Nick Kozlowski to knot the game at five.
The Rams took their first lead of the game in the fourth, as again Fordham took advantage of some wildness. Matthew DeSilva and Tim Swatek opened with back-to-back singles, and moved up a base on a wild pitch. After a walk to Cianci loaded the bases, Maghini grounded into a double play, allowing DeSilva to score. Swatek would later score on another wild pitch to make it a two-run game.
Hofstra tied the game at seven in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Ford and Hammer both walked, pulled off a double steal, and scored on a two-run single by Kevin Flynn.
Fordham recaptured the lead in the top of the sixth at 8-7. With one out, DeSilva chopped a double over the third baseman's head, where the throw from left field was overthrown, allowing DeSilva to reach third. Swatek then hit a short ground ball to third and beat the play for an infield single, scoring DeSilva.
Hofstra bounced back with a five-run sixth inning to take a 12-8 lead with the big hit being a three-run double by Flynn.
The Pride added single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, boosting their lead to 14-8, before Fordham scored once in the ninth to end the scoring. Cianci reached on an infield single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI-single from Mauri.
The Rams used seven pitchers in the game with Joseph Charest (3-6) taking the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings. At the plate, Cianci, Lee, and DeSilva each had two hits, two runs scored, and a double. McSherry finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Kownacki and Swatek each had two hits and an RBI.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Friday, April 20th, when the Rams begin a three-game Atlantic 10 series against the La Salle Explorers, beginning at 7:00 PM at Houlihan Park.
