Baseball Travels To The West Coast for Weekend Series at USC

Game Notes | WFUV Audio Link for All Games | USC Video Link for All Three Games | Gametracker (Friday) | Gametracker (Saturday) | Gametracker (Sunday)

For the first time since 2002, the Fordham Rams will head to the west coast for baseball, as the team plays a three-game series at USC.  This will be the first ever weekend series between the two schools.  This weekend's series puts together two of the winningest teams in collegiate baseball history with over a combined 7,000 wins between Fordham and USC.  The Rams rank first on the all-time wins list with 4,367 to date, while USC is third with 2,779.

The last time Fordham traveled to California was for the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic, hosted by Fresno State, where the Rams played six games over the course of the tournament, while also taking on the University of the Pacific in a two-game set.  Fordham has played USC once, falling to the Trojans in the opening game of the 1998 NCAA Regional.

All three games will be broadcast on WFUVsports.org.

PROBABLE ROTATIONS:
Friday - RHP Brett Kennedy vs. RHP Brent Wheatley
Saturday - RHP Jimmy Murphy vs. LHP Kyle Twomey
Sunday - TBA vs. TBA

SCOUTING USC: Similar to last weekend, where the Rams faced off against a hot Illinois squad, the same can be said about this week's opponent the USC Trojans.

The Trojans are a perfect 9-0, and ranked 29th in the most recent Collegiate Baseball poll, while receiving votes in the other major baseball polls.  It is the team's best start since 1988.

At the plate, USC is red hot with a .330 team batting average over the first nine games of the season, outscoring their opponents, 75-25, overall.  The Trojans have also been very active on the basepaths, collecting 32 stolen bases in 35 attempts.  Catcher Garrett Stubbs has been the hottest hitter, batting .500 (18-for-36) with seven runs scored, six RBI, and seven stolen bases to with a .561 on-base percentage.

The 9-0 record for the Trojans has also gotten a big lift from the pitching staff's 2.30 team ERA and .238 opponent batting average.  USC will most likely throw the trio of RHP Brent Wheatley (1-0, 3.60 ERA), LHP Kyle Twomey (2-0, 0.64 ERA), and LHP Tyler Gilbert (1-0, 4.82 ERA).

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKIN': Through the opening six games of the season, sophomores Matthew Kozuch and Mark Donadio have come out swinging to start the season.  Kozuch is hitting .409 with five runs scored, four extra-base hits, eight RBI, and three stolen bases, while Donadio has safely in his last five games to put his average at .391 with three RBI...  Junior Joey Runco has also gotten off to a good start at the top of the line-up, batting .320 in the leadoff spot with two doubles, two stolen bases, and four runs scored... Despite his 0-2 record, junior Brett Kennedy has pitched well in his first two starts posting 14 strikeouts to just three walks in 10 innings pitched.

UPCOMING GAMES: Following the USC series, the Rams are slated to host Wagner at Houlihan Park on March 4th, beginning at 3:00 PM.  Then, Fordham will split a three-game series with Stony Brook on March 7-8.  The Rams and Seawolves will play a doubleheader at Houlihan Park on Saturday, while Stony Brook will host a single game on Sunday.