Box Score May 4, 2013
Box Score
Amherst, Mass. -
After two straight solid offensive performances, the Fordham baseball team relied on good pitching and defense on Saturday, as Chris Pike tossed his second complete game of the season in a 2-1 victory over the Massachusetts Minutemen at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Fordham (18-30, 4-13) opened the scoring in the second inning, similar to how they scored on Friday to open the game. Sam Careccia was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Pinch-hitter David Judisky came through again for the Rams with a run-scoring hit, this time a single to left center, scoring Careccia.
The game was then a pitcher's duel between Fordham starter Chris Pike and Massachusetts starter Conor LeBlanc. Pike would face just one batter over the minimum through the first six innings, while LeBlanc gave up just the one run over his first seven frames.
UMass (11-27, 4-13) finally got to Pike in the seventh, tying the game at one on an RBI-single by Dylan Begin with runners at first and third with one out. Pike anchored down though, keeping the damage at just the one run.
Fordham answered right back to take the lead in the top of the eighth inning.
Charles Galiano and
Brendan Maghini drew back-to-back walks with one out, which ended LeBlanc's day, as UMass went to reliever Dan Stoops, while
Tim O'Connor replaced Galiano as a pinch-runner. After a fielder's choice put runners at first and third, Judisky hit a ground ball to short that hit the lip of the infield, hopping over the shortstop for a single into left, scoring O'Connor from third.
Pike would handle the rest, stranding three runners over the final two innings, to finish off his second complete game of the season. He allowed just one run and scattered seven hits with three strikeouts to earn his third win of the season.
At the plate, Judisky was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Mike Mauri also had two hits in the game.
The same two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday, beginning at noon.
