The Fordham baseball team earned a split of its doubleheader against the Canisius Golden Griffins at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, N.C. Canisius came away with a 5-4 win in game one, while the Rams rebounded to win game two, 5-2.
With the split, Fordham is now 2-4 on the year, while Canisius is 2-5.
In the first of two seven-inning affairs, Canisius' Tyler Smith threw 2.1 innings of hitless relief to lead the Golden Griffins to a 5-4 win.
After Canisius got on the board with a run in the first inning, Fordham answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. The Rams loaded the bases on a dropped third strike, an error, and a walk, and plated the first run on a sacrifice fly by
Mark Donadio.
Justin Bardwell then put down the safety squeeze bunt to plate a second run.
The Golden Griffins regained the lead at 3-2 in the third inning, as Massicci walked with two outs, stole second, and scored on a double by Kensinger. Conley followed with an RBI-single to right t score Kensinger.
Fordham quickly tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth, when
Ryan McNally connected on a solo home run to left, his second of the season.
Canisius then responded with two runs in the top of the sixth inning for a 5-3 lead, picking up runs on a sacrifice fly by Wilson and an error.
Fordham tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, as the Rams got the winning run on base.
Matthew Kozuch and Donadio both walked to open the inning, and were sacrificed up a base by Bardwell. Kozuch then scored on a passed ball with Donadio taking third. After a walk to Stampfl, Stampfl stole second on a delay steal, but Donadio took off late from third and was gunned down at the plate.
Ryan Mahoney then struck out to end the game.
Ryan McNally has hit safely in his first six games this season. Canisius' Tyler Smith (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing one unearned run over 2.1 innings of relief with three strikeouts.
Joseph Serrapica (0-2) took the loss for the Rams, allowing four earned runs on four hits over 5.2 innings of work with five strikeouts.
Anthony DiMeglio came on for the final 1.1 innings, allowing one hit. At the plate, McNally was 1-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored, while Donadio was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
In game two, Fordham's
Ben Greenberg allowed one earned run over six innings to lead the Rams to a 5-2 win over the Golden Griffins.
With Canisius up 1-0 in the fifth inning, Fordham pulled off the first and third steal with Bardwell and
Jason Lundy with Bardwell scoring to tie the game at one.
The Rams then exploded for four runs in the sixth to grab a 5-1 lead. After the inning began with an error, McNally tripled to right field, scoring
Joseph Runco from first. One out later, Donadio tripled to center to score McNally from third. The Rams added two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Bardwell and a passed ball.
Canisius got a run back in the sixth, but Fordham's
Ben Greenberg (2-0) was able to pitch six strong innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts, while DiMeglio pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh with two strikeouts for his first career save.
At the plate, McNally was 2-for-4 a triple and an RBI, while Bardwell was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
The same two teams wrap up their four-game series on Sunday with a 10:30 AM game.
