Baseball Takes Series Finale at George Mason, 8-5

Box Score | Photo Gallery

The Fordham baseball team used some clutch bases loaded hitting, to go with a couple of highlight defensive plays, to earn an 8-5 Atlantic 10 win over George Mason in the series finale in Fairfax, Virginia.

With the win, Fordham improved to 8-11 overall, 1-2 in the Atlantic 10, while George Mason fell to 13-8 on the year, 2-1 in the league.

Fordham woke up the bats early, scoring four times in the first inning.  Matthew Cianci started the frame with a walk and moved to second on a single by Joseph Runco.  Tim Swatek then loaded the bases with a bunt single, which was followed by another bunt single by Ryan McNally to score the first run of the game.  Ian Edmiston then cleared the bases with a double to left center, making it a 4-0 game.
 
George Mason responded with a run in the bottom half of the first, as Luke Willis walked, stole second, and scored on a single by Brandon Gum.
 
The Rams got that run back in the third inning, when Runco led off with a double and scored on a double from McNally.
 
The Patriots looked to get back into the game in the bottom of the sixth with one run across and runners at the corners, but the Rams flashed the leather to hold George Mason to just one run and hold onto a 5-2 edge.  Runco made a spin-o-rama stop on the right side hole on one ground ball and a diving stop on another, which Brendan Maghini picked the throw out of the dirt both times to end the inning.
 
Fordham then rewarded the defensive effort with some offense, netting three runs in the top of the seventh to lead, 8-2.  Ryan Phelan and Cianci drew back-to-back walks to open the inning, and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Runco.  After an intentional walk to Swatek loaded the bases, Rob McCunney blistered a double down the line to clear the bases, giving Fordham a six-run edge.
 
George Mason closed back within four in the eighth, registering two runs on an RBI-single by Ray Toto and a bases loaded hit by pitch.
 
The Patriots would make it interesting in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs on two walks and a single.  Though George Mason netted one run, Fordham reliever Greg Weissert got a pair of strikeouts, while the final batter fouled out to Phelan to end the game.
 
For Fordham, Swatek (3-1) earned the win, giving up one earned run on four hits over six innings, while also going 3-for-4 with two runs scored at the plate.  J.C. Porter tossed a scoreless seventh inning with Weissert getting the final six outs in relief.
 
Besides Swatek, McNally was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Runco was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.  McCunney and Edmiston also had a hit each and three RBI.
 
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Tuesday, March 25^th, when the Rams host Marist at Houlihan Park.