Bronx, N.Y. - Just as the clock struck midnight turning Thursday into Friday, time ran out on the Fordham baseball season, as a five-run ninth inning rally by the Saint Joseph's Hawks gave them a 7-6 win over the Rams, eliminating Fordham from the Atlantic 10 Championship at Houlihan Park.
The Hawks got on the board right away in the first, scoring a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI-doubles by Deon Stafford, Jr. and John Brue.
Fordham then scored four straight runs to take a 4-2 lead, netting a run in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
In the fourth, it was Fordham's junior combination of
Mark Donadio and
Luke Stampfl getting the Rams on the board. Donadio singled to center with one out, which was followed by a double down the left field line by Stampfl.
Two innings later, it was another junior,
Ryan Mahoney, who gave Fordham a 3-2 lead in the sixth.
Ryan McNally led off the inning with a single to center, while Donadio reached base on a throwing error. Stampfl then singled to center, loading the bases for the Rams. After a strikeout, Mahoney lined a two-run single up the middle, scoring McNally and Donadio. Fordham tried to add to the lead on a squeeze bunt by
Jason Lundy to the first base side, by Stampfl was tagged out at home on a throw from Charlie Concannon.
The Rams would get that fourth run in the seventh, when
Joseph Runco started the inning with a double to left center, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Donadio.
It was a bittersweet ending for senior Joseph Runco, who became Fordham's all-time hits leader in Thursday's loss.
That set the stage for a wild ninth inning, as the Hawks sent ten batters to the plate, scoring five times to take a 7-4 lead, highlighted by a two-run single by Concannon to cap the scoring.
Fordham would not go away easily, down three in the bottom of the ninth. Runco started the inning with an infield single to shortstop, making him the Rams' all-time hits leader with 242 career hits, passing Greg Smith's record of 241 (2003-06). After an error and a ground out put Runco at third, Donadio singled up the middle, making it a 7-5 game. Stampfl then drew a walk, putting the potential tying run on base. The Hawks went to Brian Lau out of the bullpen, who struck out
Justin Bardwell and Mahoney for the second and third outs. However, the third strike to Mahoney went wild, allowing Mahoney to reach base with Donadio scoring on the play to put the score at 7-6. Lau though got Lundy to foul out to third, ending the Rams' season.
Reliever
Reiss Knehr (2-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over three-plus innings with three strikeouts. Starter
Ben Greenberg went the first innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Jimmy Murphy got the final three outs, giving up two runs on four hits.
At the plate, Donadio was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI, while Mahoney also had two hits and two RBI. Stampfl was 2-for-4 with an RBI-double with Runco going 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.
The Rams end the season with a 29-29 overall record, while the Hawks improved to 30-22.
