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Despite
Jordan Gajdos' second career three-hit game and nine strikeouts from
Brett Kennedy, the Fordham Rams were edged out 2-1 by the VCU Rams on Friday at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia.
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With the loss, Fordham drops to 21-27 overall, 12-8 in the Atlantic 10, while VCU improved to 28-22 on the year, 10-10 in the league.
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VCU netted the opening run of the game in the second inning, as Vimeal Machin singled to right, moved to second on a bunt single by Brett Hileman, and scored on a single by Cody Acker.
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The score remained at 1-0 until the sixth inning, when VCU took advantage of a Fordham error to score the second run of the game. With two outs and runners at the corners, Acker hit a chopper to first that
Matthew Kozuch misplayed, allowing a run to cross the plate for a 2-0 lead.
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The Rams tried to tie the game in the eighth as Kozuch and
Charles Galiano opened the frame with back-to-back singles, which chased VCU starter Heath Dwyer from the game. Matt Lees came into the game for Dwyer, where Donadio laid down a sacrifice bunt. However, Lees' throw couldn't be handled by Darian Carpenter at first, allowing Kozuch to score from second. After a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third,
Joseph DeVito lifted a fly ball to right, which was caught in foul territory by Acker. Acker then threw home, where Walker Haymaker just got Galiano trying to score for a double play.Â
Ryan McNally then struck out to end the inning.
Jordan Gajdos recorded his second
career three-hit game on Friday.Â
Down 2-1, Fordham again tried to rally, as
Jordan Gajdos led off the ninth with a single and was sacrificed to second by
Jason Lundy. However,
Joseph Runco lined out to the pitcher, while
Ian Edmiston grounded out to shortstop to end the game.
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Fordham starting pitcher
Brett Kennedy (5-7) was the hard luck loser, as he struck out nine batters over seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits.Â
Jimmy Murphy threw the final inning, striking out one batter.
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At the plate, Gajdos was 3-for-4, while Kozuch and Galiano each had a pair of hits.
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The same two teams will match-up for the final game of this series on Saturday at 11:00 AM.
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