Box Score April 9, 2013
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Bronx, N.Y. -
With 28 runs scored, 20 hits, 22 walks, and six hit batsmen already in the game, any spectator watching the Fordham-Rutgers game on Tuesday was waiting for the next unexpected turn in a 14-14 game. They certainly got one, as Fordham scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on a balk to win the contest, 15-14, at Houlihan Park.
With the win, Fordham snapped a five-game slide to get to 12-19 on the season, while Rutgers fell to 14-15. The win by the Rams was the first over the Scarlet Knights since 1990.
Things started well for the Rams, scoring three runs in both the first and second innings for a 6-0 lead. In the first, Tim Swatek led off with walk and moved to second on a bunt single by Joseph Runco. Mike Mauri then ripped an RBI-single up the middle to score Swatek. The throw in got to the cutoff man, who then threw the ball away trying to get Runco at third, allowing Runco to score with Mauri going to third on the play. Mauri then scored on a ground out by Charles Galiano for a 3-0 lead.
The second inning saw Fordham take advantage of some more Rutgers miscues, netting three more runs. The Rams loaded the bases with one out on a single, a walk and a hit by pitch, and then picked up a run on a Mauri hit by pitch, making it 4-0. The Rams also scored runs on a wild pitch and a Galiano fielder's choice.
Rutgers responded with three runs in the third and three in the fifth to tie the game at six, before Fordham regained the lead at 10-6 with a four-run fifth inning. Ryan Phelan walked with one out and stole second. Joseph DeVito followed with a walk and Swatek was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Runco then drew a walk to force in a run, while Mauri connected on a two-run single to make it, 9-6. Galiano ripped a single to right, scoring Runco, to cap the four-run rally.
The Scarlet Knights would not go away, getting a three-run sixth and a four-run seventh inning to take a 13-10 lead. The biggest hit for Rutgers came in the seventh on a three-run double by Matt Tietz.
Fordham got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI-double by Galiano, but Rutgers quickly scored once in the eighth to regain a three-run lead at 14-11.
The Rams had one final rally in them which came in the eighth. Phelan started the rally as he was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. DeVito then drew his third walk of the game to put runners at first and second. Swatek then singled through the right side to score Phelan and move DeVito to second. After a bunt single by Runco loaded the bases, Mauri plated DeVito with a sacrifice fly to pull Fordham within one, 14-13.
The Rams then tied the game at 14 on a wild pitch with Swatek scoring from third. Another wild pitch moved Runco to third with pinch-hitter Matthew Cianci drawing a walk to put runners at first and third with two outs. Rutgers pitcher Howie Brey was then called for a balk enabling Runco to score from third, giving Fordham a 15-14 edge.
In the ninth, Fordham reliever Rich Anastasi was able to wiggle out of a jam with two runners on to secure the win for Fordham. It was Anastasi's first save of the season, allowing a hit and a walk in one inning of relief.
Reliever Jonathan Reich (1-0) got the win, as he tossed 3.2 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Starter J.C. Porter went the first 4.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and seven walks.
At the plate, Mauri was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a career-high five RBI, while Galiano was 2-for-6 with a double and a season-high four RBI. Runco finished 2-for-4 with four runs scored with Swatek posting two hits and four runs scored. DeVito was also 1-for-1 with three walks and three runs scored.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Wednesday, April 10th, as the Rams travel to West Point for a matinee at Army, beginning at 3:30 PM.
