Bronx, N.Y. – (May 17, 2018) – The Fordham baseball team gave the local school children plenty to cheer about on Field Trip Day at Houlihan Park, as
Reiss Knehr and
Mike Cowell combined for a five-hit, 11-0 shutout of the Richmond Spiders in game one of a doubleheader on Thursday. However, the Rams were unable to finish out the sweep, as Richmond pulled out a 1-0 win in 10 innings in game two.
With the split, Fordham moves to 34-16-1 on the year, 16-7 in the Atlantic 10, while Richmond moved to 30-22 overall, 14-9 in the league.
In game one,
Reiss Knehr gave up just three hits over six innings, while
Mike Cowell allowed two hits in relief, as Fordham shutout Richmond, 11-0.
Fordham got on the board right away in the first inning, capitalizing on a couple of walks and an error.
Billy Godrick and
Jake MacKenzie each drew a walk to start the inning with Godrick scoring on a single to right center by
Alvin Melendez. After a double steal,
Justin Bardwell reached on an error, with MacKenzie scoring on the play.
Fordham extended the lead to 5-0 in the third inning. The frame was highlighted by a sacrifice fly by
Colton Snelling and an RBI-sacrifice bunt by
Jake Baker.
The Rams then tacked on two runs in the fourth inning on a two-run single by
Matt Tarabek, while getting four runs in the eighth for an 11-0 lead. In the eighth, Bardwell had an RBI-double,
Brian Goulard had a two-run double, and Tarabek added an RBI-double.
Reiss Knehr improved to 6-3 on the season, pitching six scoreless innings with five strikeouts. The five strikeouts moved Knehr into fifth place on Fordham's all-time strikeout list with 211, passing Ed Alex (207 - 1940-42).
Mike Cowell picked up his second save, pitching three scoreless innings with four strikeouts. At the plate, Tarabek was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI, while Goulard was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. Melendez added two hits, two runs scored, and two stolen bases with MacKenzie scoring three runs with two stolen bases.
As a team, Fordham hit two milestones in the game, as with four stolen bases, the Rams broke the team record for stolen bases in a season at 159, passing the previous mark of 157, set in 2008. Fordham also struck out nine batters in the game, surpassing 500 for the first time in team history.
Matt Tarabek had three hits in game one.
In game two, Richmond's Daniel Brumbaugh drove in the lone run of the game in the top of the tenth inning, while Tim Miller and Layne Looney allowed just one hit in a 1-0 shutout of the Rams.
It was a classic pitcher's duel, as both sides saw great pitching from starters Tim Miller and
Ben Greenberg. Miller went nine scoreless inning, allowing just one hit, while Greenberg did not allow a run over six innings.
Anthony DiMeglio came on in relief of Greenberg and continued to post zeroes until the top of the tenth inning.
Vinny Capra drew a one-out walk from DiMeglio and one out later, moved to second on a walk to Kyle Schmidt. Daniel Brumbaugh then singled to right, scoring Capra from second.
Fordham would have a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the frame, as Bardwell drew a leadoff walk and was pinch run for by Knehr. After a sacrifice, Knehr stole third with two outs. The Rams' rally then ended as
C.J. Vazquez flew out to center to end the game.
DiMeglio (8-2) was the hard luck loser, allowing one run in 3.2 innings of work with two strikeouts. The Rams managed just one hit in the game, as
Brian Goulard reached on a single in the fifth inning.
The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Friday with a noon game. It will be Senior Day as the Rams will honor its two seniors,
Jake Bernardo and
Ben Greenberg.
