Box Score April 27, 2013
Box Score
Indianapolis, Ind. -
It was a roller coaster game for the Fordham University baseball team who jumped out to an early lead, saw Butler come back to tie the game, took a lead in the top of the eleventh and then saw the Bulldogs score twice in the bottom of the inning to defeat the Rams, 8-7, in an Atlantic 10 game at Bulldog Park.
Fordham opened the scoring immediately in the first. Mike Mauri led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. After a couple of strikeouts, Dan Sorine singled to center, scoring Mauri from second.
The Rams then stretched the lead to 5-0 in the third with a four-run frame. Joseph DeVito was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Mauri. Joseph Runco then loaded the bases with a bunt single. Charles Galiano was then hit by a pitch to force in a run, while Sorine also walked to force in another run. An RBI-single by Ian Edmiston and a run scoring on a double play ball made it a 5-0 game.
Butler responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame making it, 5-3. The inning was highlighted by a two-run triple by Risi.
Fordham got the lead back to three in the fourth with a single run. Ryan Phelan opened with a walk and was sacrificed to second by DeVito. After an out and a hit by pitch, Galiano singled to right, scoring Phelan.
The Bulldogs then knotted the game at six with three runs in the seventh inning. Butler picked up two runs on a double by Kseniak and one on a wild pitch.
The game remained tied at six until extra innings in the 11th, where Fordham regained the lead. Sorine drilled out a one-out double to center and moved to third on a single from Edmiston to put runners at first and third. Sam Careccia then hit a ground ball to first for a potential double play, but Careccia beat the return throw, allowing Sorine to score for a 7-6 edge.
Butler had a rally of their own in the bottom of the frame, which turned into the winning rally. With one out, Butler got a single and a double to put runners at second and third. Michael Fries singled down the right field line to score Marcos Calderon from third. Jimmy Risi then executed a perfect squeeze play bunt to score Guinane from third and get the win.
The extra inning rally by Butler spoiled a strong effort by Fordham pitcher Chris Pike, who received a no-decision, allowing six runs on six hits with 12 strikeouts. Brett Kennedy pitched a scoreless eighth, with Rich Anastasi taking the loss in the 11th. Anastasi allowed two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of relief.
At the plate, Edmiston was 4-for-5 with an RBI, while Sorine was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Runco also had a three-hit game with two runs scored.
The same two teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at noon.
