Bronx, N.Y. – (May 11, 2019) – On a picture perfect Saturday in the Bronx, the Fordham baseball team sent off their senior class in style, posting a doubleheader sweep of the La Salle Explorers, 5-0 and 7-2, at Houlihan Park.
The two victories completed a series sweep by Fordham, as the Rams improved to 32-21 on the year, 13-8 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle fell to 24-29 overall, 3-18 in the league.
In game one,
John Stankiewicz and
Gabe Karslo combined to throw a six-hit shutout, as the Rams blanked the Explorers, 5-0.
It was a traditional pitcher's duel between Fordham's
John Stankiewicz and La Salle's Colin Kennedy. Each put up zeroes through the sixth inning until Fordham finally broke through in the seventh. The Rams got one-out singles from
Justin Bardwell and
Matt Tarabek, while
Jason Coules was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Nick Labella then drew a walk to force in the opening run of the game.
Alvin Melendez is welcomed home after his
home run in game one.
Fordham then tacked on four runs in the eighth to extend the lead to 5-0.
C.J. Vazquez drew a leadoff walk, followed by a two-run home run to left by
Alvin Melendez, his fourth of the season. The Rams later scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Coules.
That cushion was enough for Stankiewicz and reliever
Gabe Karslo, as the duo tossed Fordham's fifth shutout of the season. Stankiewicz (7-3) recorded his team-leading seventh win of the year, allowing six hits over eight innings of work with seven strikeouts. Karslo pitched a perfect ninth to finish the game.
At the plate, Tarabek was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base, while Melendez was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
In game two, Coules and Vazquez combined for six of the Rams' 13 hits, as Fordham posted a 7-2 win over La Salle.
Fordham started the scoring in the second inning on a two-run single by
Jake Baker, scoring Coules and
Justin Bardwell.
C.J. Vazquez had three htis in game two.
La Salle answered with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game at two. The game did not stay tied for long, as Melendez plated Baker with an RBI-single to left in the bottom of the fifth for a 3-2 lead.
The Rams then added three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth for the 7-2 final.
Anthony DiMeglio (5-3) earned the win on his Senior Day, as he went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Anthony Zimmerman pitched two scoreless innings of relief with the three strikeouts, followed by a scoreless inning from
Cory Wall.
Kyle Martin then wrapped the game in the ninth by striking out the side.
At the plate, Vazquez was 3-for-5 with a triple and a run scored, while Coules was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a double and a stolen base. Baker finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base with
Billy Godrick going 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.
The Fordham baseball team will now look to lock up an Atlantic 10 playoff spot next week, as the Rams head to Dayton for a three-game series, May 16-18, to close out the regular season.
Gallery: (5/11/2019) Baseball vs. La Salle - Senior Day
