A six-run third inning proved to be the difference in today's baseball game between Fordham and Iona, as the Gaels earned a 6-1 victory over the Rams at City Park in New Rochelle.
The loss puts Fordham's record at 8-14.
After striking out the first four batters of the game, Fordham starting pitcher
Cody Johnson had a rough start to the third inning, opening with a four-pitch walk. The next batter put down a sacrifice attempt that Fordham catcher
Pat Gardner fielded looking to get the lead runner at second. However, the throw went into centerfield, putting runners at first and second.
Two more walks forced in the opening run of the game, while a sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in favor of the Gaels. Another four-pitch walk ended Johnson's day, as
David Wright came on in relief. Wright wouldn't have much more luck, as a walk, a two-run single, and a wild pitch increased the Iona lead to 6-0.
The score remained at 6-0 until the eighth, when the Rams put together a rally.
Jason Lundy laced a double to left center to start the frame, and moved to third after a pair of outs.
Matthew Kozuch then singled through the left side to score Lundy.
Mark Donadio was then able to draw a walk to put two on with two outs. The rally would stop there as Iona made a pitching change and got
Ryan Mahoney to pop out to first base.
Fordham managed just five hits against a trio of Gael pitchers. Besides Lundy and Kozuch,
Ian Edmiston had a single in the first inning,
Charles Galiano had an infield hit in the fourth inning, and
Joseph DeVito had an infield single in the fifth.
On the mound, Johnson (0-2) took the loss, allowing five unearned runs on one hit and four walks to go with four strikeouts, while Wright gave up one unearned run on two hits over 3.1 innings of relief.
Parker Barnell pitched the final two innings without allowing a run.
The Fordham baseball team will now travel to Virginia to play the Richmond Spiders in the opening Atlantic 10 series of the season. However, due to Richmond's field renovations not being complete, the series will take place at Christopher Newport University's Captains Park in Newport News, Virginia.
Game times for the weekend are Friday at 3:00 PM, Saturday at 1:00 PM and Sunday at noon.
