Baseball Drops Wild Affair to Manhattan, 14-13

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The Manhattan Jaspers scored nine runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a wild comeback, as they defeated the Fordham Rams, 14-13, at Duchess Stadium on Tuesday.
 
With the loss, Fordham fell to 18-25 on the year, while Manhattan moved to 14-27.
 
Fordham got on the board right away, scoring once in the first and twice in the second for a 3-0 lead.  In the first, Ian Edmiston led off with a double to left center, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out by Matthew Kozuch.
 
The second inning started the same way, as Mark Donadio doubled to center, which was followed by a walk to Ryan McNally.  After Jordan Gajdos moved the runners over on a ground out, Tim O'Connor plated Donadio with a ground out to third, while Edmiston doubled in McNally for a 3-0 lead.
 
After Manhattan scored once in the bottom of the second, Fordham answered back with one in the fourth to regain a three-run lead.  O'Connor connected on a one-out single and moved to second on a fielding error by the left fielder.  One out later, Joseph DeVito doubled to left center to score O'Connor.
 
The Jaspers rallied back to take a 5-4 lead after scoring twice in the fourth and fifth innings, but Fordham responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to re-take a 6-5 lead.  Fordham scored runs on a wild pitch and an RBI-single by DeVito.
 
The Rams then exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 13-5 lead, as Fordham sent 10 batters to the plate.  Kozuch was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a single by Pat Gardner.  After a strikeout, Donadio puts together an 11-pitch at bat that ended with an RBI-single to right, scoring Kozuch from second with Gardner going to third. 

 
The Rams picked up the next two runs on an error and a first and third steal, making it 9-5.  Fordham later got an RBI-single by Gajdos, a two-run single by DeVito, and a sacrifice fly by Kozuch to extend the lead to 13-5.
 
The Jaspers rallied for their own big inning, scoring nine times in the bottom of the inning to take a 14-13 lead.  Manhattan scored three runs on bases loaded walks, a two-run single by Joe McClennan, an RBI-single by Chris Kalousdian, an RBI-double by Jason Patnick, an error, and a ground out.
 
After a scoreless eighth, Fordham tried to rally one last time, as O'Connor singled to left with one out, while DeVito was hit by a pitch with two outs.  However, Kozuch would ground out to second to end the contest.
 
Fordham reliever Shane McDonald (0-1) was hooked with the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in two thirds of an inning.  Starter Kirk Haynes, Jr. went the first four innings, allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
 
At the plate, Donadio was 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base, while DeVito was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI.  Edmiston finished 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored with O'Connor going 2-for-3 with three runs scored.  Gajdos also finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.
 
The Rams are back in action on Friday, May 1^st, as they open a three-game Atlantic 10 series against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, beginning at 6:00 PM at Houlihan Park.