Baseball Drops Doubleheader to Sacred Heart

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  
Sacred Heart pitchers Jeff Stoddard and Nick Leiningen put together two strong outings, as the Pioneers swept a doubleheader from the Fordham Rams at Houlihan Park on Saturday.
 
With the losses, Fordham fell to 5-8 overall, while Sacred Heart improved to 5-6.
 
In game one, Jeff Stoddard allowed just six hits over eight innings of work to lead the Pioneers to a 4-2 decision over the Rams.
 
Sacred Heart opened the scoring in the second, as the Pioneers scored a run on a double play.  They extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth on an RBI-single by Dan Perez and an RBI-double by Victor Sorrento.
 
Fordham responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to pull within one, 3-2.  Joseph Runco led off with a single, stole second, and scored on a single by Tim Swatek.  After Swatek stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, he scored on a bunt single by Rob McCunney.
 
The score remained that way until the eighth, when the Pioneers picked up a run on two Fordham errors and a safety squeeze bunt by Derick Horn.
 
Fordham was hoping to respond right away, as Brendan Maghini singled to open the bottom of the eighth.  However, Joe DeVito lined out to left field with Maghini on the move.  Maghini was then doubled up to end the possible rally.
 
For Fordham, Brett Kennedy (0-4) was the hard luck loser, as he scattered eight hits over eight innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out five.  Cody Johnson came on to pitch a scoreless ninth inning.  At the plate, Swatek was 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and an RBI.
 
In game two, Nick Leiningen threw a seven-inning complete game, scattering seven hits, as the Pioneers shutout the Rams, 6-0.
 
The Pioneers once again took advantage of a Fordham error in the first inning, netting two runs on a single by Jayson Sullivan and a triple by Conor McEvoy.
 
Sacred Heart increased the lead to 5-0 in the second, highlight by RBI-singles by Jesus Medina, Zack Short, and Sullivan.
 
Fordham tried to get back into the game in the bottom of the frame, as Charles Galiano singled through the left side, which was followed by a double by McCunney.  However, Galiano was called out on the play at third and McCunney was later picked off of second base.
 
The Pioneers added a final run in the seventh for the 6-0 final score.
 
J.C. Porter (1-2) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits in two innings of work, while Johnson pitched five innings of four-hit relief with five strikeouts.  At the plate, Galiano was 3-for-3 to lead the offense.
 
The same two teams will conclude their series on Sunday at 1:00 PM.