Baseball Hosts Trio of Opponents at Houlihan Park This Weekend

After a win over Manhattan to open the home part of its schedule, the Fordham baseball team continues its four-game homestand at Houlihan Park this weekend, when the Rams host Villanova on Friday, Saint Peter's on Saturday, and Stony Brook on Sunday.
 
Probable Starters/Game Coverage:
Friday - Fordham - RHP Greg Weissert (0-1, 2.93) vs. Villanova - LHP Hunter Schryver (0-2, 5.40) // Twitter Feed - @FordhamBaseball | Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

Saturday - Fordham - RHP Joseph Serrapica (0-3, 7.98) vs. Saint Peter's - RHP John Leiter (0-2, 6.55) // Twitter Feed - @FordhamBaseball | Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

Sunday - Fordham - RHP Jimmy Murphy (0-1, 10.97) vs. Stony Brook - LHP Tyler Honahan (2-1, 6.75) // Twitter Feed - @FordhamBaseball | Live Stats | Live Audio
 
Series History:  Fordham has plenty of series history with each of its three opponents this weekend.  The Rams and Wildcats first met in 1896 and have played 54 contests since then with Fordham holding a 29-24-1 record.  However, the two teams have not met since a March 1983 meeting, which Fordham took, 3-1.  On Saturday, it will be the 47^th all-time meeting between Fordham and Saint Peter's with the Rams ahead in the series, 38-8.  The two teams met three times in 2013 with Fordham winning all three contests by scores of 1-0, 4-2, and 8-5.  Against Stony Brook, the Seawolves own a 17-3 record against Fordham, since the first meeting in 2005.  Last year, Stony Brook won the lone match-up against Fordham by a score of 6-5.
 
Last Time Out:  In what turned out to be a perfect day for a home opener, the Fordham baseball team did not disappoint those in attendance racking up 12 runs on 11 hits, which included a grand slam home run by Luke Stampfl, as the Rams topped the Manhattan Jaspers, 12-3, in the Battle of the Bronx at Houlihan Park.
 
Fordham opened the scoring quickly in the first inning.  With a runner at third and two outs, Matthew Kozuch singled through the right side, scoring Joseph Runco from third base.  The Rams made it 3-0 in the third inning, as Jason Lundy opened the frame with a walk, while Mark Donadio reached base on a catcher's interference call.  Runco then singled through the left side, scoring Lundy from second base.  After a fly out, Donadio scored on a sacrifice fly by Kozuch.
 
Fordham continued to pour on the offense with a four-run fourth inning. With a runner at third and two outs, Lundy singled up the middle, scoring Joseph DeVito.  Lundy then advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a single to center by Donadio.  Donadio kept the inning rolling with a stolen base and scored on an RBI-triple by Runco.  Runco then capped the inning by scoring on a wild pitch.
 
The Jaspers got on the board with a single run in the fifth, but Fordham replied with a five-run sixth inning for a 12-1 lead.  Fordham picked up a run on an RBI-single by Runco, which scored Pat Gardner, who had reached third base on a pair of Jasper errors.  The Rams then loaded the bases, as Ryan McNally was hit by a pitch and Kozuch drew a walk.  Luke Stampfl then connected on a grand slam home run to left, the first of his career.
 
Manhattan would score twice in the eighth for the 12-3 final score.
 
Fordham starter Ben Greenberg improved to 3-0 on the year, as he gave up one run and scattered six hits over five innings of work, while striking out six.  Stampfl added to his offensive day by pitching a scoreless inning of relief, as did David Manasek and Anthony DiMeglio for the Rams.  Ryan Remo had the final inning of work, allowing two runs on one hit with two strikeouts.

 
At the plate, Runco was 3-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored, and three RBI, while Stampfl was 1-for-4 with the grand slam home run  Donadio and Lundy each had a hit and two runs scored with Kozuch adding a hit and two RBI.
 
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 "Doc" McNally has had a fantastic start to his final year at Fordham.  He hit safely in the first ten games this season for a career-long hit streak, and has reached base in all 11 games.  The Rams' starting left fielder is hitting a team-best .343 with 10 runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, and four stolen bases.
 
Running Wild:  After swiping 101 and 97 stolen bases the past two seasons, the Rams are already off to a fast start, posting 17 stolen bases in 24 attempts in 2016.  Ryan McNally has four to lead the team with Matthew Kozuch and Joseph Runco each having three.  Runco now stands with a career total of 74, which is tied with Anthony Vega (1998-2001) and Santy Gallone (1989-92) for fourth place on Fordham's career stolen base list.
 
Who's Next:  The Rams hit the road for their next four contests, starting on Tuesday, March 15^th, where Fordham takes on Sacred Heart in Bridgeport, Connecticut, followed by a Wednesday game at Hofstra.