Baseball Opens 2015 Season at the Atlanta Challenge

The Fordham baseball team starts it 2015 season this weekend at the Atlanta Challenge in Georgia.
 
The Rams are led by fourth-year head coach Kevin Leighton, who guided the Rams back to the Atlantic 10 Tournament last season for the first time since 2010.
 
Fordham brings back the vast majority of its starters, led by All-Atlantic 10 second baseman Joseph Runco, who was a preseason All-Conference pick by College Sports Madness.  Fordham also welcomes back six other starters, a healthy weekend rotation, and a more experienced bullpen.

 
On Friday, Fordham will take on Georgia State of the Sun Belt Conference with game time now set for 2:30 PM, due to possible weather issues. 
 
This is the fifth all-time meeting between the two teams, with Georgia State sweeping a four-game series back in 2013.  The Rams will send junior RHP Brett Kennedy to the mound for the opening day start, after leading Fordham in most pitching categories last season.  Georgia State will counter with RHP Nathan Bates, who was 1-3 last season with a 4.76 ERA
 
On Saturday, the Rams play at Georgia Tech of the ACC for a doubleheader, as  all Sunday games of the Atlanta Challenge have been removed, due to weather concerns. 
 
This is the first meeting between the two schools, but Fordham has had held its own in recent years against the ACC.  Since 2010, Fordham is 4-5 with wins over Miami (Fla.) (2010), Wake Forest (2011), Boston College (2012), and Pittsburgh (2014) in that stretch.  Junior RHP Jimmy Murphy will get the ball in game one, while fellow junior RHP Joseph Serrapica will get the ball in game two.
 
Friday vs. Georgia State
Follow Live: Live Stats | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Georgia State, 4-0
Pitching Match-up:  RHP Nathan Bates (1-3, 4.76) vs. RHP Brett Kennedy (6-7, 3.36)

Saturday vs. Georgia Tech
All-Time Series: First Meeting
 
Game 1:  Game 1 Live Stats | Game 1 Live Video (PPV) | Live Audio
Pitching Match-up:  LHP Ben Parr (5-4, 2.62) vs. RHP Jimmy Murphy (0-0, 0.00)
 
Game 2:  Game 2 Live Stats | Game 2 Live Video (PPV) | Live Audio
Pitching Match-up:  LHP Devin Stanton (5-3, 2.24) vs. RHP Joseph Serrapica (0-3, 4.62)