Baseball Seniors Lead The Way in Series Clinching Win Over URI

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Bronx, N.Y. - Good pitching still remained the theme in the series finale between the Fordham Rams and the Rhode Island Rams at Houlihan Park on Sunday.  Each squad had one win due to good pitching and today was no different.  Fordham's Joseph Serrapica and Jimmy Murphy scattered eight hits and struck out a combined seven batters, as Fordham topped URI, 4-2, to earn the series clinching win.
 
With the win, Fordham improved to 19-18 overall, 6-3 in the Atlantic 10, while Rhode Island fell to 13-16 on the year, 5-4 in the league.
 
Rhode Island notched the opening run of the ballgame in the top of the first inning.  Martin Figueroa roped a one-out ground-rule double over the center field wall, and moved to third on a passed ball.  He then scored on a ground out by Jordan Powell.
 
Fordham answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame.  Justin Bardwell started the rally with a double down the right field line.  Ryan McNally then hit a fly ball to left that the leftfielder lost in the sun and dropped for a hit.  Bardwell scored on the play with McNally ending up at third when the throw went home.  Luke Stampfl then plated McNally with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
Fordham added to the lead with two runs in the second to go up by a 4-1 margin.  Jason Lundy reached on an error to start the inning, while Ryan Mahoney was hit by a pitch.  Ian Edmiston then laid down a bunt, which the catcher threw to third base, but Lundy beat the play to the bag, loading the bases.   Joseph DeVito followed with a single to left to score Lundy from third.  After a line drive double play, Bardwell drew a walk to re-load the bases with McNally also drawing a walk to force in another run.

 
The score remained that way until the sixth, when Rhode Island cut the deficit to 4-2, on a triple to right center by Laurence Hill and an RBI-single by Mike Foley.
 
Fordham kept the score at 4-2, behind some stellar defense and pitching.  The Maroon and White turned three double plays on the afternoon, two of which came in the sixth and seventh innings.  Then, it was Fordham's pitching duo of Joseph Serrapica and Jimmy Murphy shutting down the Rhode Island offense. 
 
Serrapica (2-4) threw the first seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.  Murphy recorded his second save of the season, pitching two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.
 
At the plate, DeVito was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while McNally was 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and a stolen base.
 
The Fordham baseball team will wrap up its six-game homestand on Tuesday, April 19^th, when the Rams host Fairfield at Houlihan Park, beginning at 6:00 PM.  For the second straight year, the game will be a fundraiser for the Vs. Cancer Foundation to Cure Kids' Cancer.  Members of the team will be shaving their heads after the game to support the cause.  The Rams hope to beat their mark of over $14,000 raised last year. To help the team this year, go to their team page & donate.