Box Score April 12, 2013
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
Bronx, N.Y. -
Despite misty rain and cold temperatures, Fordham and Rhode Island began their Atlantic 10 series on Friday night at Houlihan Park with a tightly fought contest that came down to the ninth inning. In the ninth, URI scored on a passed ball, and then threw out the potential tying run at home in the bottom of the frame to secure a 4-3 over Fordham.
With the loss, Fordham moves to 12-21 on the year, 1-6 in the Atlantic 10, while Rhode Island improved to 16-17 on the year, 4-3 in the league.
Rhode Island scored first in the opening frame, loading the bases on three straight singles and received a bases loaded walk to Mike LeBel to make it 1-0. Fordham held the damage to just the one run, as the defense got a fly out and a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Rhode Island added to the lead in the fourth with a single run. Pat Fortunato led off with a single and moved to second on a ground out. After a balk advanced him to third, Fortunato scored on a single through the right side by Joe Landi.
Fordham got that run back in the bottom of the fourth. Charles Galiano led off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a single by Dan Sorine. After a foul out on a bunt attempt, Galiano would score on a Ryan McNally fielder's choice.
Fordham then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the in the fifth inning, This time, it was Joseph DeVito starting things with a one-out double down the left field line. A walk to Tim Swatek and a bunt single by Joseph Runco loaded the bases with one out. Mike Mauri then reached on an infield single, scoring DeVito to tie the game. Swatek then scored on a fielder's choice by Galiano, as he beat out a double play attempt by URI.
URI quickly knotted the game at three in the sixth, getting an RBI-single by Shane O'Connell to score Kevin Stenhouse from second base. Stenhouse reached on a bunt single and stole second.
The score remained knotted at three until the ninth, as Rhode Island scored once to take a 4-3 lead. Jeff Roy began the inning with a walk and was sacrificed to second. An infield single by Pat Quinn left runners at first and third, as Fordham brought in Tim Swatek from centerfield to pitch for Fordham starter Joseph Charest to hopefully get out of the jam. Swatek's first pitch though deflected off Galiano's glove, allowing Roy to score from third on the passed ball.
Fordham tried to rally back, as Swatek singled with one out and stole second. Runco then hit a chopper toward first, which he beat the play to the bag for an infield single. Swatek tried to score on the confusion at first, but URI pitcher Mike Bradstreet threw home in time for Quinn to tag out Swatek at the plate. Mauri then hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Bradstreet (5-3) went the distance for Rhode Island, allowing three runs on 12 hits with five strikeouts, while Charest (1-6) was the hard luck loser for Fordham, giving up four runs on 10 hits over 8.1 innings.
At the plate for Fordham, Runco was 3-for-5, recording his first career three-hit game, while DeVito was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Ian Edmiston also had two hits in the contest with Mauri, Galiano, and McNally each having a hit and an RBI.
The same two teams will play game two of the series at 4:00 PM on Saturday.
