Baseball Opens Conference Action at Davidson This Weekend

Davidson, N.C. – (March 22, 2018) – With the latest nor'easter now complete, the Fordham baseball team will find their way out of the wintry conditions this weekend, as the Rams head to Davidson to start Atlantic 10 play at Wilson Field.
 
The series features two of the better records in the Atlantic 10 through the first month-plus of the season, as Fordham enters at 10-6-1 overall, while Davidson, the defending Atlantic 10 champion, is 14-6.
 
Probable Starters/Game Coverage
Friday – Fordham – RHP Reiss Knehr (2-1, 3.13) vs. Davidson – RHP Allen Barry (3-1, 1.59) // Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
 
Saturday – Fordham – RHP Ben Greenberg (2-0, 2.11) vs. Davidson – LHP Evan Roberts (3-1, 2.81) // Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
 
Sunday – Fordham – RHP Anthony DiMeglio (2-0, 4.58) vs. Davidson – RHP Josh Hudson (3-1, 4.94) // Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Twitter - @FordhamBaseball

Series History
The Rams and Wildcats have met six times previously, following the addition of Davidson to the Atlantic 10.  Fordham is 4-2 in those games with the Rams winning two of three in the 2015 series in the Bronx, as well as two of three in the 2016 series at Davidson.
 
Last Time Out
Even with sunny skies overhead on Sunday, Fordham and Cornell battled not only each other but also cold temperatures and extreme winds at Houlihan Park in the rubber game of a three-game series.  In the end, Fordham's Billy Godrick had the go-ahead RBI-double in the sixth inning and then made a diving catch to end the game in the ninth, as the Rams picked up a 5-3 victory over the Big Red.
 
Cornell jumped on Fordham starter Anthony DiMeglio for a pair of runs in the first inning on a two-run single by Will Simoneit to grab a quick 2-0 lead, but the Rams answered back with a run in the bottom of the frame.  Billy Godrick was hit by a pitch to start the frame and moved to second on an Alvin Melendez single.  After a groundout advanced the runners, Justin Bardwell plated Godrick with a groundout.
 
The Big Red went back up by two in the second at 3-1, picking up an RBI-groundout by Ellis Bitar, which scored Ramon Garza.  Garza singled and moved to third on an error prior to scoring.
 
Fordham then took advantage of three Cornell errors in the fifth to tie the game at three, scoring on another ground out by Bardwell and a failed pickoff attempt at third.  The Rams then got their first lead of the game in the sixth inning.  With a runner on first and two outs, Godrick ripped a double down the right field line, which scored Brian Goulard from first, as he just beat the throw home.

 
Fordham then added an insurance run in the eighth, once again courtesy of a Cornell error. With Goulard at second after a hit by pitch and a groundout, Goulard took off for third and Cornell's pitcher Adam Saks threw errant to third on the pickoff play, allowing Goulard to score.
 
In the ninth, Cornell did not make it easy for Fordham's closer Melendez, putting two runners on with one out on a single and a walk.  Melendez then struck out Kyle Gallagher for the second out, bringing Josh Arndt to the plate.  Arndt drove a deep fly ball to right center, but Godrick came across from center for the diving catch to end the game.
 
After the tough first inning, DiMeglio (2-0) settled down to earn his second win of the season.  He allowed two earned runs on five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.  Brian Weissert tossed two hitless innings of relief, while Melendez recorded his fourth save with a scoreless ninth.  At the plate, Godrick extended his hit streak to ten games, going 1-for-4 with an RBI-double and a run scored, with Melendez going 1-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases.  Reiss Knehr and Nick Labella had the remaining hits for Fordham with Bardwell having a pair of RBI.
 
Labella Named A-10 Rookie of the Week (3/19)
The Atlantic 10 Conference announced its set of weekly baseball awards on Monday with Fordham freshman Nick Labella being selected as the league's Rookie of the Week.  Labella is the second Fordham freshman honored this season, joining Matt Mikulski.
 
Labella hit safely in all four games this week, extending his hit streak to five games.  He hit .375 with two RBI and three doubles for the Rams.  Labella had his first career three-hit game on Wednesday against Wagner, going 3-for-5 with two RBI.  He also had a double in all three games against Cornell, while adding two walks in the series finale.
 
On the year, Labella is batting .290, good for second on the team, with five doubles, six runs scored, and nine RBI.
 
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 17 games of the 2018 season.  This year, the Rams have 57 stolen bases, which ranks first in the Atlantic 10 and third in the country, while the team's 3.35 average is tops in the nation.  Individually, ten Rams have at least one stolen bases this season, led by Alvin Melendez with 15, which ranks second in the country.
 
Who's Next
The Rams are next in action on March 27^th when they are scheduled to be at Saint Peter's for a 3:00 PM game, before hosting Manhattan for a three-game series, March 30-31.