Photo GalleryBehind a five-run first inning, a solid outing for the pitching duo of
Brett Kennedy and
Joseph Serrapica, and four double plays, the Fordham Rams won game two of their Atlantic 10 series against the Saint Louis Billikens, 7-2, at Houlihan Park on Saturday.
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With the win, Fordham moves to 17-24 on the season, 8-6 in Atlantic 10 play, while Saint Louis fell to 28-14 overall, 9-5 in the league. The win also secured Fordham's fourth straight Atlantic 10 series win.
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Fordham got on the board right away, scoring five times in the bottom of the first inning. The Rams quickly loaded the bases on a single by
Joseph Runco, a double by
Ian Edmiston, and a walk to
Matthew Kozuch. After a foul out,
Mark Donadio hit a ground ball to shortstop for the play at second base, but the umpire called that the second baseman was off the bag, leaving the bases loaded with Runco scoring on the play.
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After a strikeout,
Joseph DeVito singled to left center to score two runs, but the centerfielder had the ball bounce away from him to allow a third run to score with DeVito ending up at third base. DeVito then scored on a wild pitch to put Fordham ahead, 5-0.
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Saint Louis picked up two runs in the top of the third inning, cutting the Fordham lead to 5-2. The Billikens got an RBI-single by Mike Vigliarolo as well as an RBI-ground out by Braxton Martinez.
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The Rams got a run back in the bottom of the frame to lead, 6-2.Â
Ryan McNally started the inning with a single and stole second base. After a ground out, McNally scored on a passed ball.
Joe DeVito starts one of the Rams' four double plays on Saturday.Â
Fordham wrapped up the scoring in the eighth inning, as
Ryan Mahoney doubled down the right field line and was pinch run for by
Tim O'Connor. After a sacrifice bunt advanced O'Connor, Runco singled to right center to score O'Connor.
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The cushion was enough for Fordham's pitching tandem of
Brett Kennedy and
Joseph Serrapica. Kennedy earned his fourth win of the year, as he pitched the first seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. Serrapica pitched two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.
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At the plate, Runco was 2-for-5 with a run scored, while Edmiston was 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored. McNally was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base with DeVito extending his hit streak to 11 games with the two-run single in the first.
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The same two teams match-up for the series finale on Sunday, beginning at noon.
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