Richmond, Va. – (April 13, 2019) – In a polar opposite of yesterday's contest, the Fordham baseball team scored early and often, while pounding out 14 hits, as the Rams took game two of its Atlantic 10 series with the VCU Rams, 11-1, at the Diamond in Richmond, Virginia.
With the win, Fordham improved to 22-14 on the year, 7-4 in the Atlantic 10, while VCU fell to 26-9 overall, 9-2 in the league.
Fordham struck quickly, scoring once in the first and second innings for a 2-0 lead. In the first,
Justin Bardwell drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a double to left by
Nick Labella.
Matt Tarabek then reached on an infield single to third base, plating Bardwell from third.
Then in the second,
Jake Guercio and
Jason Coules drew back-to-back walks and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by
Jake Baker.
Jake MacKenzie then plated Guercio with an infield single.
Fordham then opened the game up with a four-run third inning. Labella started the frame with a single off the pitcher and moved to second on a sacrifice. Labella then stole third with
C.J. Vazquez and
Alvin Melendez drawing walks to load the bases with one out. Guercio then followed with a two-run double to left, scoring Labella and Vazquez. Coules then singled home Melendez with
Jake Baker plating Guercio with a sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead.
The Rams continued to add to the lead with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 9-0 lead. The two runs in the fourth came on an RBI-double by Tarabek and an error, while Bardwell had an RBI-double in the fifth.
Jason Coules
The barrage continued in the sixth, as after a leadoff single by Vazquez, Melendez connected on a two-run home run over the left field fence for his third home run of the season and an 11-0 lead.
VCU would break up the shutout in the eighth on a solo home run but that's all VCU could muster against the Fordham pitching staff.
John Stankiewicz improved to 6-1 on the season, allowing just four hits over six innings with five strikeouts. Melendez and
Brandon Nance each pitched a scoreless inning of relief with Nance having two strikeouts, while
Cory Wall allowed the lone run in one inning of work.
At the plate, Labella was 3-for-5 with a double, a stolen base, and two runs scored, while Coules went 3-for-4 with a stolen base, a run scored, and an RBI. Vazquez posted a 2-for-3 night with two runs scored with Melendez, Guercio, and Tarabek each driving in a pair of runs.
The rubber game between these two teams is set for 1:00 PM on Sunday.
