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The Rams and Flyers tried as hard as they could to sneak in Saturday's planned doubleheader and complete their Atlantic 10 series. However, the rain would just not relent at Houlihan Park, leaving the two teams no option but to suspend action in the series finale.
Fordham won game two of the series, 6-3, but the finale was suspended in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and the score all tied at three.
In the first game,
Tim Swatek and
Rob McCunney each drove in two runs, while
Brett Kennedy did not allow an earned run through seven innings, as the Rams topped the Flyers, 6-3.
The Rams jumped on Dayton starter Charlie Dant for three runs in the first.
Matthew Cianci got things started with a leadoff single and
Joseph Runco moved him to second when he beat out his sacrifice bunt attempt for a single.
Tim Swatek followed with a single to plate Cianci before he and Runco pulled off a double steal to put runners on second and third. A
Rob McCunney single delivered both runners to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.
The Flyers cut the Fordham lead to 3-1 with an unearned run in the top of the second as A.J. Ryan opened the frame with a single and, one out later, moved to second on an error where he scored later in the inning on a Kuris Duggan single.
The score remained 3-1 until the home half of the fifth when, with one out, Cianci singled and moved to second on a Runco single. After Cianci stole third, Swatek brought him in with a ground out to second.
The Rams made it 5-1 with an unearned run in the sixth.
Charles Galiano started the inning reaching on a throwing error and
Ian Edmiston sacrificed him to second. Galiano would then come around to score on a pair of wild pitches.
The Flyers mounted a comeback attempt in the eighth, scoring twice to make it a 5-3 game. With one out, Nate Harris walked and then moved to third on an Aaron Huesman double. Ryan followed with another double to plate both runners but Fordham reliever
Greg Weissert settled down to strike out Zach Schira and get Mark Podlas to fly out to end the threat.
Fordham added an insurance run in the home half of the frame as Galiano walked and
Joseph DeVito came on to pinch run for him. DeVito took second on a balk and back-to-back walks to Edmiston and pinch hitter
Ryan Phelan loaded the bases. One out later, DeVito scored on a
Mark Donadio sacrifice fly.
Swatek finished with two hits and two RBI in game one while Cianci and Runco each collected two hits and McCunney drove in a pair of runs.
Brett Kennedy threw the first seven innings for the Rams, allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out four, to pick up his first win of the year.
Game two of the doubleheader began with Dayton scoring three times in the first inning. The Flyers loaded the bases on three hit batsmen, which all came around to score on a bases clearing double by A.J. Ryan.
The Rams cut the lead to 3-2 with single runs in the second and third innings. In the second, Fordham took advantage of three errors by the Flyers to net its first run, while in the third, Donadio led off with a single up the middle. In a scary moment, Cianci tried to sacrifice Donadio to second, but the ball deflected off his bat and into his forehead, forcing Cianci to leave the game with an injury. At the same time, the rain forced a one hour and 24 minute delay in the action.
When action resumed,
Tim O'Connor continued the at bat, and advanced Donadio to second on a ground out. After a wild pitch, Runco reached on a bunt single, scoring Donadio from third.
Fordham was then able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth on the fourth error of the game by Dayton. Runco drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and moved to third on a ground out. McCunney then hit a ground ball to third, which Runco took off for home. However, Duggan fumbled the catch, and Runco was able to touch home plate and tie the game at three.
The game was suspended the following inning after another lengthy rain delay. The Flyers look to regain the lead, as Duggan reached on an infield single to start the seventh inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice. Fordham starter
Tim Swatek was able to record the second out on his career-high tenth strikeout of the game, but the game would be suspended on the next batter. Dayton's Alex Harris is at the plate with a 1-2 count and a runner on second.
The constant rain spoiled a strong effort from Swatek, who has a career-high ten strikeouts in 6.2 innings with no walks.
The series finale will resume at 11:00 AM on Sunday at Houlihan Park.
