Bronx, N.Y. – The picture perfect afternoon on Thursday at Houlihan Park ended with the picture perfect finish for the Fordham baseball team, as senior outfielder
Jason Lundy connected on a walk-off two-run home run to give the Rams a 4-3 victory over the Saint Joseph's Hawks. The walk-off win was the fourth this season for the Rams.
With the win, Fordham snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Hawks and have now won eight of its last ten games overall. The Rams moved to 16-13 on the year, 5-4 in the Atlantic 10, while Saint Joseph's fell to 10-16 on the year, 3-4 in the league.
Fordham jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, taking advantage of a Saint Joseph's error.
Matthew Kozuch started the frame by reaching on an error by the Saint Joseph's second baseman Taylor Boyd, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Jake Baker. One out later,
Mark Donadio singled to right, scoring Kozuch from second.
Saint Joseph's quickly tied the game at one in the top of the second, when Dominic Cuoci hit a solo home run to right, his eighth of the season.
The Hawks then grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fourth, scoring twice on three walks, a passed ball, and two wild pitches.
The Rams cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Kozuch doubled to left center, and then scored on a single by Baker.
Jason Lundy rounds first after his third home run of the season.
The game remained that way until the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out,
Ryan Mahoney turned a 0-2 count into a walk to give the Rams a chance.
Alvin Melendez came on to pinch run for Mahoney, with
Jason Lundy coming to the plate. After missing on a bunt attempt at the start of the at bat, Lundy drove a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run and a 4-3 Fordham win.
Kyle Martin (5-1) earned the win out of the bullpen, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to cap a great effort by the Rams' relievers.
Shane McDonald and
Brandon Martin each turned in two innings of scoreless relief of starter
Mike Cowell. Cowell went the first four innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out a season-high seven batters.
Besides the Lundy home run, Fordham was led by Kozuch, who was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Donadio was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
The same two teams match-up for game two of the series on Friday with game time at 11:30 AM.
