Big Inning by George Mason Drops Rams, 10-6

A nine-run inning by the George Mason Patriots in the top of the sixth inning proved to be the difference maker on Friday at Houlihan Park, as they edged out the Fordham Rams, 10-6, in game two of their Atlantic 10 series.
 
The loss puts Fordham at 9-18 on the year, 1-4 in the Atlantic 10, while the Patriots improved to 11-16 overall, 3-5 in the league.
 
After taking the initial lead in the first inning on an error, Fordham extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth, when Matthew Kozuch connected on a solo home run to left, his second of the season.
 
The Rams made it 5-0 in the fifth, scoring three times on two hits and an error.  With runners at second and third and one out, Joseph Runco plated Ryan McNally with a ground ball, but the ball was thrown away leaving runners at first and second.  After a couple of stolen bases, Joseph DeVito scored on a wild pitch.  Mark Donadio then singled up the middle to score Runco for the five-run lead.
 
That lead would get erased in the sixth, as George Mason scored nine runs on eight hits and one error.  The big hits in the inning came from Jake Kalish and Luke Willis, who both had a two-run single in the frame.
 
Fordham pulled back within three, 9-6, with a single run in the eighth.  Charles Galiano reached base on a one-out single and moved to third on a double by Kozuch.  Ian Edmiston then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Galiano from third.
 
George Mason though got that run back in the ninth and Tyler Tobin was able to retire the Rams in the bottom of the frame to secure the 10-6 win.
 
Kalish improved to 2-3 on the mound, as he struck out nine over seven innings, while going 3-for-5 with three RBI.
 
Fordham starter Brett Kennedy fell to 1-6 on the season, allowing four earned runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings with eight strikeouts.  David Manasek gave up three unearned runs in a third of an inning, while Joseph Serrapica tossed 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.  Cody Johnson (1.2 IP, 1 R, 3 K) and Ben Greenberg (0.1 IP) also pitched for the Rams.
 
At the plate, Kozuch was 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, while Runco was 1-for-5 with a pair of stolen bases and an RBI.
 
The same two teams will play the series finale on Sunday, beginning at noon.