Bronx, N.Y. – Behind a 14-hit barrage which included three-hit games from
Matthew Kozuch and
Matt Tarabek, the Fordham baseball team downed the Albany Great Danes, 7-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Houlihan Park.
With the win, Fordham improved to 9-11 on the year, while Albany fell to 8-9.
Albany started the scoring in the top of the third inning, as Kenny Hayden reached on an infield single to short. Hayden then stole second, where the throw went into centerfield, allowing Hayden to reach third. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Donati for a 1-0 lead.
The Rams answered with a four-run fourth inning to grab a 4-1 lead. Fordham started the inning with three straight singles by
Mark Donadio,
Brian Goulard, and
Ryan Mahoney with the last one by Mahoney driving in Donadio. After
Jason Lundy was hit by a pitch to load the bases,
Pat Gardner drove in Goulard with a fielder's choice, while
Jake Baker put down a safety squeeze bunt to plate Mahoney for a 3-0 lead.
Matthew Kozuch then ripped an RBI-single through the right side to score Gardner from second.
The teams exchanged runs in the sixth, making it a 5-2 Fordham lead. Albany picked up their run on a wild pitch, while Kozuch delivered his second RBI-single of the game for Fordham.
Fordham added to the lead with two runs in the seventh. Donadio was hit by a pitch to start the inning, followed by a double by Goulard to put runners at second and third with no outs. After a strikeout, Lundy plated Donadio with an RBI-ground out to second, while Gardner singled home Goulard for a 7-2 edge.
Matt Tarabek had his first career three-hit game on Wednesday.
Albany plated one run in the ninth, but it would not be enough as the Rams took the game by a 7-3 count.
Fordham's
Brandon Martin (2-0) earned the win, pitching two hitless innings of relief with one strikeout.
Brian Weissert got the start, allowing one unearned run on three hits.
Kyle Martin tossed two innings of one-hit relief, giving up an unearned run, while
Marc Bisogno (1 IP, 0 H) and
Shane McDonald (1 IP, 1 R, 2 K) each threw one inning of relief.
At the plate, Kozuch was 3-for-5 with two RBI, while
Matt Tarabek had his first three-hit game, going 3-for-5. Donadio and Goulard each had two hits and two runs scored with Gardner going 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Friday, March 31st, as the Rams begin a three-game Atlantic 10 series against La Salle with a 3:00 PM start at Houlihan Park.
