Box Score April 29, 2012
Box Score
Cincinnati, Ohio -
In what seemed like a bit of déjà vu, the Fordham Rams held the lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning against Xavier for the second straight game on Sunday at Hayden Field. And like the previous game, Xavier tied the game in the eighth and eventually won in extra innings, 4-3, over the Rams.
With the loss, Fordham is now 19-28 on the season, 10-8 in the Atlantic 10, while Xavier improved to 22-24 overall, 8-7 in the league.
For the third straight game, Fordham opened the scoring between the two squads. Tim Swatek opened the game with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Swatek moved to third on a dropped third strike and later scored on an RBI-single by Ryan Lee. Lee then stole second and advanced to third on an overthrow. Mike Mauri followed with an RBI-single, scoring Lee for a 2-0 lead.
Xavier cut the lead to 2-1 in the second, as Mitch Elliott singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Brian Bruening.
The Rams regained a two-run lead in the fifth at 3-1, as Rob McCunney drew a walk, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a ground rule double from Swatek.
The Musketeers cut back into the lead in the sixth, when Bruening singled with one out, advanced to second on an error, and scored on an RBI-single by Selby Chidemo.
Xavier then tied the game at three in the bottom of the eighth inning, as with runners at first and third and one out, Patrick Paligraf reached on a bunt single, allowing Daniel Rod to score.
The game would go into extra innings, where Xavier capitalized on some wildness from Fordham reliever Jeremy Adel. Paligraf started the tenth-inning rally for the Musketeers with a two-out single. Chidemo was then hit by a pitch with Derek Hasenbeck drawing a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Tres Eberhardt also drew a four-pitch walk, which forced in Paligraf with the game-winning run.
Adel (3-3) took the loss, allowing one run on four hits and two walks in 2.1 innings of relief. Starter Chris Pike went the first five innings, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts. Rich Anastasi tossed 1.1 innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits.
At the plate, Ryan Maghini was 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, while Swatek, Mauri, and Lee each had a hit and an RBI.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Tuesday, May 1st, when the Rams host the Manhattan Jaspers at Houlihan Park, beginning at 7:00 PM.
