Baseball Shut Out by FGCU, 2-0

FGCU starting pitcher Michael Murray scattered five hits over 7.2 innings of work and struck out 11 Ram hitters, as the Eagles posted a 2-0 win over the Rams at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 1-3 on the year, with FGCU improving to 2-3.
 
The only scoring of the game came in the bottom of the second inning, as the Eagles scratched two runs across the plate.  Colton Bottomley and Kyle Gilbert drew back-to-back walks to open the inning.  Blake Berger then reached on a bunt single that got thrown away, allowing Bottomley to score on the play.  After a fly out, Adam Eggnatz connected on an RBI-single to right, scoring Gilbert.
 
From there, it was all pitching, as FGCU's Michael Murray and Fordham's combination of Brett Kennedy, David Manasek, and Cody Johnson baffled hitters on both sides.
 
Murray lasted into the eighth inning until Fordham's Joseph Runco ripped a two-out double down the right field line.  Garrett Anderson came on in relief and got Matthew Kozuch to strike out to end the inning.

 
In the ninth, Fordham tried to put a late rally together, as Charles Galiano reached on an error to start the inning.  However, Anderson induced two ground balls and got a strikeout to earn his first save of the season.
 
Murray evened his record at 1-1 as he allowed just five hits over 7.2 innings with 11 strikeouts.  His outing overshadowed a strong outing by the Rams' pitching staff.  Kennedy (0-2) took the loss, as he gave up one earned run on five hits with eight strikeouts, while David Manasek (1 IP, 1 H) and Cody Johnson (2 IP, 2 K) threw a combined three innings of shutout relief.
 
At the plate, Runco was 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, while Mark Donadio was 2-for-4.
 
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Saturday, February 20^th, when the Rams take on Illinois at Swanson Stadium, beginning at 1:00 PM.