May 16, 2012

Fordham-Richmond Game Notes

Richmond, Va. - The Fordham Rams enter the final weekend of the regular season in fifth place in the Atlantic 10 at 12-9, holding a one-game edge over Richmond, Xavier, and Massachusetts, who are all 11-10. In looking to secure an Atlantic 10 playoff spot, Fordham could easily move up or out of the Championship, as two games separates third from eighth place in the standings.

As it stands, Saint Louis has punched their ticket into the Atlantic 10 Championship at 17-7, while the rest of the field will be determined this weekend.

Dayton is in second (14-7) with Rhode Island in third (13-8), Saint Joseph's in fourth (12-8), Fordham in fifth, and Richmond, Xavier, and Massachusetts are tied for sixth.

Fordham will not have an easy task, as the Rams travel to Richmond for a three-game set. The Spiders are trying to fight into a playoff spot with the Rams attempting to hold them off this weekend at Pitt Field.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
Thursday - Fordham - RHP Chris Pike (4-1) vs. Richmond - RHP Alex Maffett (3-2) | Live Stats | Watch (PPV)
Friday - Fordham - RHP Daniel Munday (5-3) vs. Richmond - LHP Zak Sterling (5-1) | Live Stats | Watch (PPV)
Saturday - Fordham - RHP Joseph Charest (5-8) vs. Richmond - RHP Jacob Mayers (6-3) | Live Stats | Watch (PPV)

SCOUTING RICHMOND: The Spiders are 24-24 this season with an 11-10 mark in the Atlantic 10.

The team is batting .283 this season, while posting a 4.98 team ERA. Leading the way offensively is Phil Ruzbarsky, who leads the team with a .347 batting average, to go with 38 runs scored, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI. The power in the line-up comes from the duo of Chris Cowell and Jacob Mayers. Cowell leads the team with 15 doubles, 18 home runs, and 51 RBI, while hitting .276, while Mayers is batting .316 with 13 doubles, nine home runs, and 42 RBI.

On the hill, Richmond will throw LHP Zak Sterling on Friday, but the starters for Thursday and Saturday have yet to be determined. Sterling is 5-1 this season with a team-best 2.95 ERA to go with 48 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched.

In the bullpen, Andrew Brockett and Alex Maffett have been the top arms. Brockett has a team-high four saves in 22 appearances to go with a 4.84 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched. Maffett had three saves this season in 19 appearances to go with three wins, a 3.70 ERA, and 28 strikeouts in 41.1 innings pitched.

WE'RE GOING STREAKIN': Tim Swatek takes a 12-game hit streak into this weekend, which ties his career-long. Over the streak, he is batting .370 (17-46) with eight runs scored, five doubles, a home run, and five RBI... Ryan Maghini is hitting .364 (16-44) over his last 12 games, posting three doubles, eight RBI, and four stolen bases... Mike Mauri is batting .333 (13-39) over his last 12 games, collecting six RBI and five runs scored... Starting pitcher Daniel Munday has been superb in his last four starts, going 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA, two complete games, a .202 opponent batting average, and 19 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched... In the La Salle series, Joseph Charest and Daniel Munday became the first Fordham pitchers to throw back-to-back complete game wins, since Chris Pike and Max Krakowiak did so against La Salle on March 26th & 27th of last season.

THE A-TEAM: When the game has been on the line, Fordham has gone to the "A-Team" duo of Jeremy Adel and Rich Anastasi to shut the door in the closing innings.

In games won by the Rams, Adel is 3-0 with six saves, a 0.59 ERA, and a .208 opponent batting average, while Anastasi is 2-0 with four saves, a 1.32 ERA, 16 strikeouts, and a .250 opponent batting average.

UPCOMING GAMES: If the Rams qualify, the Atlantic 10 Championship will be held at Fordham's Houlihan Park, May 23rd-26th with games beginning at noon each day. Six teams make the Championship with the top two seeds earning first-day byes.