Box Score Saint Joseph's Collin Forgey registered a two-run double in the top of the ninth inning, while Steven Schuler held off a late Fordham rally, as the Hawks completed a series sweep of the Fordham Rams, 4-3, at Houlihan Park on Sunday.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 13-20 on the year, 4-8 in the Atlantic 10, while Saint Joseph's improved to 19-9 year, 8-3 in the league.
Saint Joseph's opened the scoring in the first inning, as Chris Hueth was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Brian O'Keefe. After a double play moved Hueth to third, Tommy Cunningham singled to right to score Hueth.
Fordham responded immediately with a run of its own in the first.
Tim Swatek opened the inning with a single up the middle and was sacrificed to second by
Joseph Runco. After a strikeout,
Charles Galiano ripped a ground rule double to left center to score Swatek and tie the game at one.
The Rams then took their first lead of the series in the third inning, as Swatek ripped a single to center. The centerfielder then booted the ball to the center field wall, allowing Swatek to reach third. After a walk to Runco,
Rob McCunney lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Swatek from third.
The Fordham defense then flashed some leather in the fourth. After registering two double plays earlier, Swatek made a diving catch off the mound to end the fourth, and strand Kevin Kratochwill at third after a triple.
The Rams then added some offense in the fifth, increasing their lead to 3-1. With two outs, Swatek was hit by a pitch, which followed by a double from Runco that was laced down the left field line and scored Swatek.
Saint Joseph's threatened to tie the game in the seventh, but another outstanding play by the Fordham defense kept the lead intact. With two outs and O'Keefe on second after an RBI-double, Cunningham single to right field, but
Tim O'Connor fired a rocket to Galiano at home for the tag of O'Keefe for the final out of the inning.
The Hawks though would not go away, netting two runs in the ninth, to take a 4-3 lead. With two outs and runners at second and third, Collin Forgey hit a looper into the right center gap, which scored both runners, giving Saint Joseph's the lead.
Fordham tried to rally in the ninth, as
Mark Donadio led off with a single up the middle, but he was erased on a fielder's choice. Saint Joseph's reliever Steven Shuler then got a strikeout and a fly out to close out the game and record his fourth win of the season.
Fordham's
J.C. Porter (2-4) was the hard luck loser, allowing two earned runs on five hits in three innings of work, while Swatek went the first six innings, allowing one run on seven hits with five strikeouts.
At the plate, Swatek was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Donadio was 2-for-4.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Tuesday, April 15, when the Rams host Iona at Houlihan Park, beginning at 7:00 PM.
