Box Score March 15, 2013
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
Bronx, N.Y. -
It seemed fitting that on day one of the Frankie Frisch Invitational at Houlihan Park on Friday, that baserunning would be a factor in the Fordham-NJIT opener. The Rams made the "Fordham Flash" proud, as Charles Galiano had a pair of triples, while Joseph Runco had two stolen bases, leading the Rams to an 8-3 win over the Highlanders.
With the win, Fordham improved to 9-6 on the year, while NJIT fell to 4-8.
The Highlanders hit the scoreboard immediately in the first inning off Fordham starter Cody Johnson, snapping a 16-inning scoreless innings streak for the freshman. NJIT loaded the bases with one out on a hit by pitch, a single, and a walk. Nick Swim then delivered an RBI-single to score a run, while a sacrifice fly by Mike Rampone made it 2-0 in favor of the Highlanders. A bases loaded walk to Scott Brosman later in the inning made it a 3-0 deficit for the Rams.
Fordham got a run back in the second inning, as Ian Edmiston connected for an RBI-double down the right field line, scoring Charles Galiano, who reached on a single and moved to second on a Ryan McNally single.
In the fourth, the Rams closed to within one, courtesy of an NJIT error that allowed Joseph Runco to reach base. Runco then stole second and scored on a single to center by Tim Swatek.
The score remained 3-2 until a five-run explosion in the seventh inning gave Fordham a 7-3 lead. Mike Mauri started the rally with a walk and scored on a triple by Galiano, his second in as many games. McNally followed with a double to right center, scoring Galiano, and giving McNally an RBI in his third straight game.
After an out, Edmiston singled to right, putting runners at the corners for
Joseph DeVito. DeVito put down a perfect squeeze play bunt toward third, scoring McNally with DeVito reaching first on the bunt single. Two batters later, Runco reached on an infield single to score another run with a second coming in on an overthrow at first.
The Rams added an insurance run in the eighth, when Galiano laced his second triple of the game and scored on an RBI-single by Brendan Maghini. Galiano's triple marked the first time a Ram had two triples in a game since Kevin Brush had two against Temple on May 3, 2003.
After a rough first inning, Johnson finished the third inning with two scoreless innings with senior Rich Anastasi taking over in the fourth. Anastasi (1-2) was brilliant over the final six innings to earn his first win of the season. He allowed just two hits and two walks over the final six innings, and did not have a baserunner reach third base.
At the plate, Galiano was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two triples and an RBI, while Edmiston was 2-for-5 with an RBI-double and a run scored. McNally finished 2-for-3 with an RBI-double with Matthew Cianci and Swatek each having a pair of hits.
The second game of the day saw Sacred Heart top Saint Peter's, 7-2, as Dan Perez was 2-for-4 with a triple and a home run to lead the Pioneers to the win. Sacred Heart's Kody Kerski (1-0) earned the win, giving up just four hits over seven innings of work with five strikeouts.
Day two of the Frankie Frisch Invitational begins at noon on Saturday with Saint Peter's against NJIT, while Fordham hosts Sacred Heart at 3:30 PM.
