Baseball Takes on Canisius in Four-Game Set This Weekend

The Fordham baseball team continues its 2016 season this weekend in Wilson, North Carolina, where the Rams will take on the Canisius Golden Griffins in a four-game series at Fleming Stadium.
 
The Rams open the weekend with a 3:00 PM game on Friday, a doubleheader at noon on Saturday, and a 10:30 AM game on Sunday.
 
Probable Starters/Game Coverage
 
Friday: RHP Greg Weissert vs. RHP Mike Elwood // Twitter Feed - @FordhamBaseball | Live Stats
 
Saturday: Game 1 – RHP Joseph Serrapica vs. RHP Josh Shepley // Game 2 – RHP Ben Greenberg vs. LHP J.P. Stevenson // Twitter Feed - @FordhamBaseball
 
Sunday: RHP Jimmy Murphy vs. RHP Andrew Kneussle or LHP Nolan Hunt // Twitter Feed - @FordhamBaseball | Live Stats
 
Series History
 
The two Jesuit institutions have met just twice in their history, with both games coming in a doubleheader in 1978.  Fordham came away with wins in both contests by scores of 2-0 and 5-2.
 
Last Time Out
 
Michigan State's Walter Borkovich pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, while striking out six batters, as the Spartans downed the Fordham Rams, 7-2, at the First Pitch Invitational, held at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina.
 
The Rams got off to a good start, scoring in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.  Ian Edmiston and Matthew Kozuch each drew walks to put runners at first and second with two outs. Mark Donadio then plated Edmiston with an RBI-single through the right side.
 
The Spartans quickly knotted the game at one in the bottom of the frame on a solo home run by Brandon Hughes.
 
Michigan State then took 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning on a two-run double by Matt Byars.

The Spartans added to their lead with a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the seventh to build a 7-1 advantage.
 
Fordham was unable to muster much offense against Michigan State starter Walter Borkovich, who gave up only three hits over seven innings of work.  The Rams did manage to pick up a run in the ninth for the final score of 7-2.  With runners at the corners and one out, Luke Stampfl picked up an RBI-double to right, scoring Joseph Runco from third.
 
For Fordham, Jimmy Murphy (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings of work with seven strikeouts.  Kirk Haynes, Jr. finished the game, giving up just one unearned run over 3.2 hitless innings of action.

 
At the plate, Donadio was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, while Stampfl had the pinch-hit RBI-double in the ninth.
 
Fordham's Houlihan Park to Host 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship
 
For the third time, Fordham University's Houlihan Park will play host to the Atlantic 10 Championship at the end of this season.  The Rams' home ballpark also hosted the Championship in 2006 and 2012.  The seven-team tournament will be held, May 25-28.  For more information on the tournament, visit Atlantic10.com.
 
The Doctor Is In
 
Graduate student outfielder Ryan McNally has a fantastic start to his final year at Fordham at the First Pitch Invitational last weekend.  The Rams' starting left fielder hit .333 with a double, a home run , and four RBI.  In Fordham's win against Furman, he had the biggest hit of the game, a bases clearing double, that gave Fordham a 3-2 lead.  He also homered against Presbyterian.
 
Who's Next
 
The Rams will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a three-game series at LSU, March 4-5.