Spartansburg, S.C. – (February 16, 2018) – Despite 19 strikeouts by the Fordham pitching staff on Opening Day, the Rams were outlasted by the Evansville Purple Aces, 9-8, in 10 innings, at Russell C. King Field in Spartansburg, S.C.
Both teams took advantage of early mistakes in the first inning, as Evansville scored three times in the top of the first off two Fordham errors, while the Rams scored a run on two Evansville errors.
The score remained at 3-1 until the fourth, when the Purple Aces scored four times in the fourth, highlighted by a solo home run by Troy Beilsmith, to take a 7-1 lead.
Fordham answered back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to trail by three, 7-4.
Matt Tarabek drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a double by
Alvin Melendez. Tarabek then scored on a ground out by
Nick Labella, while Melendez came in to score on an infield single by
C.J. Vazquez. Vazquez reached second on an error, while later scoring on an error.
Evansville regained a four-run lead in the fifth on a solo home run Andrew Tanous, making it an 8-4 game.
The Rams then used the long ball to eventually tied the game at eight.
Billy Godrick hit a solo home run to right center in the seventh, while in the eighth
Jake MacKenzie connected on a game-tying three-run home run to right center.
Anthony DiMeglio struck out a career-high nine batters on Friday.
Fordham had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth getting two on with two out, but Labella was caught stealing to end the inning.
In the tenth, Evansville took a 9-8 lead when Peter Vaccaro dumped a pop up over Labella into short right field to score Beilsmith from first.
The Rams had one final shot in the bottom of tenth as MacKenzie drew a one-out walk, while Godrick connected on a two-out single to put runners at the corners.
Justin Bardwell though would strike out looking to end the game.
The loss spoiled a great strikeout performance by the Fordham pitching staff, as they racked up 19 strikeouts in the game, led by a career-high nine by
Anthony DiMeglio. Starter
Reiss Knehr had four over the first two innings, while
Joseph Quintal,
Anthony Zimmerman, and
Kyle Martin each had two.
At the plate, Melendez was 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a stolen base, while MacKenzie was 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a stolen base. Godrick was also 2-for-5 with a home run.
The Rams are back at it on Saturday when Fordham takes on Wofford at 5:00 PM.
Jake MacKenzie is welcomed at the dugout after his three-run home run.
