Box Score April 24, 2013
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | 
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Bronx, N.Y. -
The Fordham Rams were all smiles on Wednesday night despite suffering some losses but night's end. Fordham started the day with a doubleheader sweep of the Columbia Lions at Houlihan Park by scores of 5-4 and 9-3, and then the players and coaches celebrated by losing their hair for the St. Baldrick's Foundation for childhood cancer research.
In addition to the Rams shaving their heads as a fundraiser for the childhood cancer research foundation, the Columbia baseball team also joined in the festivities by shaving their heads as well following the doubleheader. Special thanks go out to the Brittany Beauty School of the Bronx and Tony's Barber Shop of Riverdale for volunteering their time to help with the headshaving.
In the doubleheader, Fordham posted a 5-4 comeback win in the first game, and then followed with a 9-3 win in game two.
In game one, Fordham opened with a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run, two-out double by Rob McCunney, scoring David Judisky and Ryan Phelan.
Columbia cut the deficit to one with a run in the third, but Fordham got that tally right back in the bottom of the inning. Tim Swatek led off with a double down the left field line, moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a ground out by Sam Careccia.
Fordham starter J.C. Porter cruised through the opening six innings, but started the seventh with a walk, which ended his afternoon with a solid performance, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts in that stretch. Reliever Brett Kennedy came in from the Fordham bullpen and got two outs, while walking two to load the bases. Alex Black then connected on a two-run single to left, knotting the game at three. Joey Falcone followed with another RBI-single, giving Columbia its first lead of the game.
The Rams though would not be denied, putting together a rally in the bottom of the seventh, which began with a single to left by Phelan, who was then pinch run for by Joe Calabrese. After a walk to McCunney, pinch hitter Dan Sorine laced a double to the right center gap, scoring Calabrese, but the ball bounced over the wall for a ground rule double, which held McCunney at third. Swatek was then intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Joseph Runco then drew another walk, forcing in the winning run.
Kennedy (3-2) got the win in relief, allowing two runs on two hits with one inning, while Porter received a no-decision. At the plate, Phelan and Careccia each had two hits in the game, while McCunney drove in a pair of runs.
Game two saw Fordham bust out the big sticks, as Judisky had a home run and four RBI in a 9-3 win by the Rams.
The Rams opened with a 1-0 lead in the first, when Runco doubled down the left field line with two outs and Charles Galiano followed with an RBI-single through the left side.
Columbia then grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fourth, as Falcone hit a solo home run to center, while John Kinne had a two-run double.
Fordham answered back with a single run in the fourth, three in the fifth, and four in the sixth to open up a 9-3 lead. In the fourth, Calabrese snuck an infield single by the third baseman to score Judisky from second, making it a 3-2 game.
Then, after scoring a run on a wild pitch in the fifth that tied the game, Judisky crushed a two-run home run to left, giving Fordham a 5-3 lead. It was Judisky's first of the season.
Fordham piled on four runs in the sixth to close out the scoring, taking advantage of three walks and two wild pitches in the inning. The Rams got RBI-singles from both Runco and Galiano, and then capped the rally with a two-run single by Judisky.
Rich Anastasi (2-3) earned the win in relief of starter Cody Johnson. He tossed two scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts, while Swatek finished the game with a single scoreless inning. Johnson went the first four frames, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts.
At the plate, Judisky had the big day, going 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI, while Runco was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Galiano chipped in two hits and two RBI, while Swatek added two hits and two runs scored. Ryan McNally would draw four walks in the game, marking the first time a Fordham player did that since Rich Goulian did so in 2007 at George Washington.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Friday, April 26th, as the Rams travel in Indianapolis to face the Butler Bulldogs in the start of an Atlantic 10 series, beginning at 3:00 PM.
