Bronx, N.Y. – In a season of wild finishes, there are few that will top Tuesday's Iona-Fordham baseball game at Houlihan Park. Trailing 7-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Fordham rallied for seven runs, capped by a two-run infield single by
Mark Donadio, giving Fordham an incredible 8-7 win over the Iona Gaels.
With the win, Fordham has won seven of its last eight games to improve to 25-23 on the season, while Iona fell to 20-22 on the year. The win was also the 19
th home win for the Rams, the most for the team since winning 19 in 1994.
The game did not start well for the home team, as Iona jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the fifth inning, scoring once in the first, four times in the third, and once in the fifth. In the first, Brian Picone led off the game with a double and then scored after a pair of groundouts for a 1-0 lead.
Then in the third, Iona scored four times on a sac bunt and error, an RBI-double by Matt Byrne, and on a double play. The Gaels' sixth run came on an RBI-single by Sean Breen for a 6-0 lead.
Fordham got on the board in the seventh to make it a 6-1 game. With two outs,
Billy Godrick drew a walk, followed by a single from
Mark Donadio.
Luke Stampfl then plate Godrick with an RBI-single to left.
Iona got that run back in the ninth, scoring on a first and third steal, putting Fordham in a 7-1 deficit, as the Rams headed to the bottom of the ninth against Iona reliever Andrew Camiolo.
The comeback began with a leadoff single from Godrick followed by a walk to Donadio. After a flyout,
Jason Lundy roped an RBI-single to left, scoring Godrick.
Ryan Mahoney was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.
After a strikeout,
Alvin Melendez, who came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth, ripped a base hit just inside the right field line into the corner. Iona rightfielder Seth Hoaglund picked up the ball just before it rolled over the out of play line, keeping the play alive. Melendez ended up with a bases-clearing triple, making it a 7-5 game.
Justin Bardwell then pinch-hit for
Nico Doria and blistered a single to right to score Melendez and pull Fordham within one, 7-6.
Jake Baker was then hit by a pitch, putting the tying run in scoring position, and ending Camiolo's outing. Iona closer Jared Finkel came on to pitch and would hit Godrick to load the bases for Donadio. Down to his last strike, Donadio hit a slow ground ball to short, which he beat out for an infield single. Bardwell scored with Baker never letting up and running hard around third, also scoring on the play to give Fordham its second straight walkoff win.
Ryan Mahoney had three hits in his final game at Houlihan Park
Senior
Parker Barnell (1-0) earned his first career win in his final home game, after pitching the top of the ninth inning and getting a strikeout. Starter
Mike Cowell went two-plus innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. He was relieved by
Shane McDonald, who threw two scoreless innings, followed by
Anthony DiMeglio, who allowed one run on four hits in two innings of relief.
Kyle Martin and
Alexander Hernandez rounded out the pitching effort for the Rams with one scoreless inning each.
At the plate, Baker was 3-for-5 and scored the game-winning run, while Mahoney was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Donadio finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI with Godrick going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Stampfl, Lundy, and Bardwell each had an RBI-single with Melendez picking up a triple and three RBI in his lone at bat.
The Rams, who are still in contention for a playoff spot, will next be in action on Thursday, May 18
th, when Fordham travels to St. Bonaventure for the final Atlantic 10 series of the season. That game will be a noon start, followed by noon games on Friday and Saturday.
