Bronx, N.Y. – (May 10, 2019) – Behind a stellar outing from sophomore
Matt Mikulski and a 11-run output from the Fordham offense, the Rams took the Atlantic 10 series opener from the La Salle Explorers, 11-1, at Houlihan Park on Friday.
With the win, Fordham improved to 30-21 on the year, 11-8 in the conference, while La Salle fell to 24-27 overall, 3-16 in the Atlantic 10. It marks the first time since the 1990 and 1991 seasons that Fordham has posted back-to-back 30-win campaigns.
The Rams kicked off the scoring right away with two runs in the first, one in the second, and one in the third for a 4-0 lead, highlighted by RBI-singles from
Jake Baker in the second and an RBI-single from
Justin Bardwell in the third.
Fordham then tacked on three runs in the fifth and sixth innings, opening up a 10-0 advantage. In the fifth,
Jake MacKenzie reached on an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.
Matt Tarabek then plated MacKenzie with his second sacrifice fly of the game, making it 5-0. One out later,
Nick Labella reached on a single and came around to score on a two-run home to left by
Billy Godrick, his second of the season.
Justin Bardwell drove in three runs on Friday
The sixth inning was Fordham pick up a run on a throwing error, followed by a two-run single by Bardwell for a 10-0 lead.
Fordham scored one more time in the eighth on an RBI-single by Labella, which scored
Justin Machado from second to close out the Rams' scoring.
The only blemish for the Rams was a solo home run by Tatem Levins in the ninth inning for La Salle, his ninth of the season, for the 11-1 final score.
Prior to the home run, Fordham's pitching trio of
Matt Mikulski,
Brian Weissert, and
Marc Bisogno held the La Salle bats to just three hits in the game. Mikulski (6-5) picked up the win after a brilliant outing, allowing just two hits and two walks over six innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Weissert tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, while Bisogno had three strikeouts in his one inning of work.
At the plate, Bardwell was 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Godrick was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. MacKenzie finished with two hits and three runs scored with Baker and Labella each having a three-hit game with an RBI.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 2:00 PM. It will be Senior Day for the Rams with that ceremony set for 1:45 PM.
Gallery: (5/10/2019) Baseball vs. La Salle (1)
