Bronx, N.Y. – (March 16, 2018) – Following a tough extra-inning loss to Wagner on Wednesday, the Fordham baseball team is right back at Houlihan Park this weekend, when the Rams host the Cornell Big Red for a three-game series. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday at noon with a single game on Sunday, also at noon.
Probable Starters/Game Coverage
Saturday – Game 1 - Fordham – RHP
Ben Greenberg (2-0, 1.10) vs. Cornell – RHP Tim Willittes (0-2, 10.45) //
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Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Saturday – Game 2- Fordham – RHP
Reiss Knehr (2-1, 3.32) vs. Cornell – RHP Seth Urbon (0-1, 6.52) //
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Sunday – Fordham – RHP
Anthony DiMeglio (1-0, 5.27) vs. Cornell – LHP Tyler Fernandez (0-1, 18.00) //
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Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Series History
The Rams and Big Red have met 16 times previously, with the first meeting back on May 28, 1891. Cornell holds an 11-5 series lead, but the two teams have not met since 1972, when Cornell earned a 6-1 win at Fordham. The Rams' last win in the series came on May 7
th, 1954, a 4-0 decision in seven innings.
Last Time Out
Wagner's Sean Mazzio hit a three-run home run in the top of tenth inning to cap a wild game at Houlihan Park on Wednesday afternoon, as the Seahawks topped the Fordham Rams 10-7 in ten innings.
Wagner started the scoring right away in the first inning, when Phil Capra hit a solo home run to right, his sixth of the season. Fordham answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. With two outs,
Matt Tarabek singled down the left field line, while
Justin Bardwell drew a walk. After a wild pitch advanced the runners,
Nick Labella singled to centerfield to score both Tarabek and Bardwell for a 2-1 lead.
The Rams increased the lead to 6-1 with a four-run fifth inning.
Billy Godrick led off with a bunt single and moved to second on a walk to
Alvin Melendez. Tarabek then singled up the middle to score Godrick with Melendez moving to third. Bardwell then drove out a two-run double to left, scoring Melendez and Tarabek. After a bunt single by Labella moved Bardwell to third, Bardwell scored on a fielder's choice by
Jake MacKenzie.
The game then turned in the sixth as Wagner took advantage of three Fordham errors and scored six times to take a 7-6 lead, highlighted by a two-run double by Anthony Godino.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the ninth, when Fordham tied the game at seven. Godrick started the frame with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Melendez. Godrick then stole third and scored on a two-out double to right by Bardwell. Labella followed with an infield single, putting the winning run at third base. Wagner reliever Nick Robino though got MacKenzie to fly out to left to force extra innings.
The Seahawks then regained the lead in the top of the tenth, as with two outs and runners at the corners, Sean Mazzio connected on a three-run home run to right, his first of the season. Fordham was unable to mount a rally in the bottom of the tenth, falling by the final of 10-7.
Matt Tarabek
Melendez (1-1) took loss, allowing three runs over three innings with three strikeouts. The loss overshadowed a strong start by
Brian Weissert, who threw a career-long five innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts.
At the plate, Bardwell was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI, while Labella was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Tarabek finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI with Godrick going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Bardwell Named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List (3/6)
The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the official watch list for the 2018 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com on March 6
th, as Fordham catcher
Justin Bardwell was one of ninety-seven catchers to be nominated for the award by their coaches.
This is the second straight year that Bardwell has made the initial list for the Johnny Bench Award. Bardwell is in his third season as the Rams' starting catcher. Over his first two seasons, Bardwell has started 91 games behind the plate, totaling 22 doubles and 52 RBI. This year, he has started 11 of 13 games behind the plate, registering a team-high eight RBI. Defensively, Bardwell is one of the better catchers in the Atlantic 10, throwing out 46 potential base stealers since joining the Rams, good for a 37% clip.
He's Going, He's Going
A popular phrase heard at Fordham's Houlihan Park at any Rams' home game is "He's going, he's going!" That phrase has certainly been true through the first 14 games of the 2018 season. In 2017, Fordham had just eight stolen bases through the first 14 games. This year, the Rams have 44 swipes, which ranks fourth in the country. Individually, nine Rams have at least one stolen bases this season, led by
Alvin Melendez with 10, which ranks eighth in the country.
Who's Next
The Rams begin five-game road swing on Wednesday, March 21, as Fordham visits Iona for a 3:30 PM game, before heading to Davidson to start Atlantic 10 play, March 23-25.
