Baseball Takes Down Manhattan in the Battle of the Bronx, 12-3

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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.
 
With the win, Fordham improved to 4-7 on the season, while Manhattan fell to 1-6.
 
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.  Runco also had a stolen base in the game, the 74^th of his career, which moves him into a tie with Anthony Vega (1998-2001) and Santy Gallone (1989-92) for fourth all-time at Fordham.  Donadio and Lundy each had a hit and two runs scored with Kozuch adding a hit and two RBI.
 
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Friday, March 11^th, when the Rams play host to Villanova, beginning at 3:00 PM at Houlihan Park.