Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham's
Matthew Kozuch delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the tenth inning to score pinch runner
Justin Machado from second, as the Rams completed an Atlantic 10 doubleheader sweep of the La Salle Explorers with a 4-3 win in game two at Houlihan Park. In game one,
Jimmy Murphy allowed just five hits over eight innings in a 5-2 Fordham win.
With the sweep, Fordham improved to 11-12 overall, 3-3 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle fell to 4-20 on the year, 1-5 in the league.
In game one, Fordham wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring four times in the first inning.
Matthew Kozuch singled through the right side to start the game and then scored on a double by
Brian Goulard. After a ground out and two walks,
Matt Tarabek plated the Rams second run with a ground out, while
Reiss Knehr connected on a two-run single for a 4-0 lead.
La Salle pulled within 4-2 with single runs in the third and sixth inning, but Fordham regained a three-run lead with a single run in the bottom of the sixth, as
Jason Lundy singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
From there, it was
Jimmy Murphy's game, as he threw eight innings, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts to improve to 2-4 on the season.
Alvin Melendez threw a scoreless ninth to earn his second save of the season. At the plate,
Jake Baker was 3-for-4, while Kozuch was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Jimmy Murphy
In game two, Fordham once again jumped out to the early lead, scoring twice in the first and once in the second for a 3-0 lead.
The Rams started the offense with a double by Kozuch, as he extended his hit streak to a career-long mark of 11 games. Baker then reached on a bunt single, but the throw from first baseman Ben Faso could not be handled, allowing Kozuch to score on an error.
Luke Stampfl then singled home Baker from second.
In the second, it was two more La Salle errors that led to Fordham's third run. Goulard reached second on an error by Faso, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground ball hit by
Ryan Mahoney.
The Explorers though would tie the game at three with a three-run fifth inning, which was highlighted by a two-run single by Kevin McGowan and an RBI-double by Austin Constantini.
Reiss Knehr had a career-high 12 strikeouts on Sunday.
The game remained tied due to some incredible defense by the Rams in the top of the ninth and tenth innings. In both innings, La Salle had two runners on with two outs, but Lundy and Baker both came up with diving catches in center and left field respectively to end the inning without a run being scored.
That defense left the door open for Fordham to win the game in the bottom of the tenth. Tarabek singled through the right side to start the tenth and was pinch run for by
Justin Machado. After a walk to Mahoney and a strikeout by Lundy, Kozuch laced a singled to left center, scoring Machado for the walkoff win.
Melendez (2-0) was the beneficiary of Kozuch's hit, picking up his second win of the season in relief of
Reiss Knehr, throwing two innings of two-hit relief with three strikeouts. Knehr was dominant through the first eight innings, registering a career-high 12 strikeouts and allowing just one earned run. At the plate, Kozuch and Baker each had two hits and a run scored.
Matthew Kozuch connected on his GW-hit in the tenth.
The Fordham baseball team will next be in action on Wednesday, April 5
th, when the Rams host Saint Peter's for a doubleheader at Houlihan Park, beginning at 2:00 PM.
