Baseball Extends Win Streak to Five

Bronx, N.Y. – (March 4, 2020) – Facing off against the fourth-ranked offense in the NCAA averaging ten runs per game, the Fordham Rams had their work cut out for them against the NJIT Highlanders on Wednesday afternoon at Houlihan Park.  The Rams' pitching staff was up to the task, limiting the Highlanders to just one run and six hits, as Fordham came away with a 3-1 victory.
 
With the win, Fordham has won five straight games to pull even at 6-6 on the year, while NJIT fell to 6-5.
 
The Rams got on the scoreboard right away in the first inning.  With two outs and a runner at first, Jake MacKenzie singled through the right side, moving Jason Coules to third.  Alvin Melendez followed with a single up the middle to plate Coules for a 1-0 lead.

 

Fordham made it 2-0 in the fourth inning, as Andy Semo singled home Zach Selinger from second base, after he reached on a single. 

NJIT cut the Fordham lead to 2-1 in the fifth when Andrew Elcock plated Albert Choi from third with a ground out.
 
The score remained at 2-1 until the Rams tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning for a 3-1 lead.  C.J. Vazquez and Coules led off the inning with back-to-back singles with Vazquez moving to third on a fly out.  He then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Melendez.
 
That cushion was enough for the Fordham pitching staff, as five pitchers combined on a six-hitter.  Alex Henderson (1-1) opened the game with two scoreless innings, while Gabe Karslo tossed the next three innings, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts.  Jack Popolizio followed with two-thirds of inning pitched, while Garrett Crowley had one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work.  Melendez closed out the game for the save, pitching two scoreless innings for his first of the year and 13^th of his career.
 
At the plate, the Rams tallied nine hits by eight different players.  Melendez was the lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base, extending his hit streak to seven games.  Coules also extended his personal-best hit streak to nine games and added a run scored.
 
The Rams continue their homestand on Friday, March 6^th, when the Rams host Iona to start a three-game series at Houlihan Park.  Game time is set for 3:00 PM.