Wilson, N.C. – Despite a career-best performance from pitcher
Jimmy Murphy, the Fordham Rams could not find their way past Canisius on Sunday, falling by a 2-1 score in 10 innings at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, N.C.
The loss drops Fordham to 2-8 on the season, while Canisius improved to 9-3.
Offense was at a premium on Sunday, as the opening run was scored without a hit. Fordham registered a run in the third inning to take the initial lead at 1-0.
Ryan Mahoney was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and moved to third on an error, which allowed
Alvin Melendez to reach first. After a pop out,
Jason Lundy knocked in Mahoney with a sacrifice fly, but the rally stopped there as Melendez was doubled off first on the play, but after Mahoney had scored.
The score remained that way until seventh, when Canisius was able to scratch across a run off Fordham pitcher
Jimmy Murphy. The Golden Griffins loaded the bases on two errors and a single, and scored a run on a double play.
Fordham had their chances to re-take the lead getting a runner to third in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, but could not plate the go-ahead run.
Canisius would though in the tenth, getting a single, an error, and two wild pitches to go up by a 2-1 score. The Rams had one more chance, as Canisius committed an error with two outs to give Fordham a chance, but Tyler Smith got
Justin Bardwell to ground out to end the game.
The extra-inning loss marred an incredible outing by Murphy for Fordham, as he threw a career-long 9.1 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts.
The Rams now return to the Bronx for their home opener, as they host Manhattan at Houlihan Park for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 8
th, beginning at 2:00 PM.
