Philadelphia, Pa. – (April 13, 2018) – Despite two home runs and five RBI by freshman
Jake MacKenzie, the Fordham baseball team dropped a 6-5 decision to the La Salle Explorers at Hank DeVincent Field on Friday afternoon.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 19-11-1 overall, 4-3 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle improved to 10-21 overall, 2-5 in the league.
Fordham got the scoring started in the third inning, as
Justin Machado led off the inning with a double to right center. After a sacrifice,
Billy Godrick was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners.
Jake MacKenzie then roped a three-run home run to left center, his fourth of the season.
La Salle got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single by Austin Constantini, but the Rams answered with two in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. Machado drew a walk and was sacrificed to second by
Jake Baker. After a pop out, MacKenzie ripped a shot off the left center field fence that rolled away from the centerfielder. MacKenzie would make it all the way around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park home run, scoring Machado.
The Explorers battled their way back to make it a 5-4 game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Chase Arnold connected on a two-run home run, while La Salle also got a bases loaded hit by pitch for another run.
La Salle then grabbed a 6-5 lead in the eighth. Brian Dudeck started the frame with a triple to right center off
Alvin Melendez, which ended his day.
Kyle Martin came on and struck out Ben Faso for the first out. However, Arnold doubled to left center, tying the game at five. After another strikeout and a walk, La Salle put the runners in motion with Tommy Toal reaching on an infield single to the left side. Pinch runner Yan Carlo Rivera kept running from third and beat
Matt Tarabek's throw home for a 6-5 lead.
Justin Machado
Fordham did have a chance in the ninth, as Baker doubled to right with one out and moved to third on a ground out. MacKenzie though would strike out to end the game.
Martin (2-2) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Starter
Reiss Knehr received a no-decision after six innings of work, giving up one run on three hits with six walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, MacKenzie was 2-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI, while Machado was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
The same two teams will match up tomorrow for a 12:00 PM doubleheader to conclude the series.
