Bronx, N.Y. – (March 11, 2021) – Off to its best start since 1988, the Fordham baseball team looks to improve upon its strong beginning to the season this weekend, when the Rams host the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in a three-game series at Houlihan Park.
The Rams will take a number of win streaks into the series, having won 14 straight games, dating back to last season, while also earning a win in 18 straight contests at Houlihan Park. To extend those streaks, they will have to do it against an old friend, as former associate head coach
Rob DiToma is now the head coach at Fairleigh Dickinson.
FDU just got their season underway this past Wednesday when they fell to LIU Brooklyn, after seeing their opening series against Lafayette get cancelled.
PROBABLE STARTERS/GAME COVERAGE:
Friday: Fordham – LHP
Matt Mikulski (1-0, 4.50) vs. FDU – Chris Quijano //
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Saturday: Fordham – RHP
Cory Wall vs. FDU - RHP James Donlon //
Live Audio |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Sunday: Fordham – RHP
Brooks Ey (0-0, 2.25) vs. FDU - TBA //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
SERIES HISTORY: The Rams and Knights have met 52 times previously with the Rams holding a 31-20-1 edge in the all-time series. The Rams have won 12 straight meetings with the last coming in 2019, a 22-10 win in Teaneck.
LAST TIME OUT (3/10): Behind a stellar pitching and a career-best performance from
Zach Selinger at the plate, the Fordham Rams made it five straight wins to start the season, capturing a 10-0 win over the Sacred Heart Pioneers, 10-0, on Wednesday afternoon.
Fordham blew the game open from the get-go, scoring five runs in the first and three in the second for an 8-0 lead. The Rams loaded the bases with no outs in the first and got a two-run single by
Nick Labella and a two-run triple from
Zach Selinger for a 4-0 lead.
Andy Semo then plated Selinger with a sacrifice fly for the final run of the inning.
Zach Selinger
In the second,
Ryan Thiesse led off with a bunt single and moved to second when
Jake Guercio was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. After a pair of outs, Labella singled home Thiesse with Guercio moving to second. Selinger then connected on a two-run double to the gap for an 8-0 Fordham lead.
Fordham finished the scoring in the fourth, netting a pair of runs on a fielder's choice and an error.
From there, the Fordham pitching staff was the story as five hurlers combined for the four-hit shutout.
Gabe Karslo (2-0) earned the win, allowing just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts over five innings.
Michael Ghiorzi and
Ben Kovel each added a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts apiece, while
Joe Bladel and
Jack Popolizio had one scoreless inning.
At the plate, Selinger had the big day, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and a career-high five RBI, while Labella was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
Jason Coules scored a pair of runs and extending his hit streak to 18 games with Guercio scoring three runs after reaching base on three hit by pitches.
HOME SWEET HOME: Fordham has clearly felt right at home at Houlihan Park of the last few years. Dating back to the end of the 2019 season with a May sweep of La Salle through this past Wednesday's win over Sacred Heart, the Rams have won their last 18 games played at Houlihan Park.
NO "COULING" OFF PERIOD HERE: The Rams' hottest hitter in the abbreviated 2020 season picked up right where he left off, as junior outfielder
Jason Coules was a force in the opening series against NJIT. Having hit safely in his final 13 games of 2020, Coules extended his personal-best hit streak to 18 games, with hits in all five games this season. He is hitting .350 (7-20) for the year with two doubles, a triple, and four RBI. Coules also added three stolen bases.
HELLO OLD FRIEND (PART 2): In addition to welcoming back former associate head coach
Rob DiToma, the Rams' weekend series against Fairleigh Dickinson will also see the return of former Ram pitcher
Marc Bisogno. Bisogno transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson as a graduate student after four years at Fordham from 2017-20. He made 34 career appearances on the mound for the Maroon and White, recording 37 strikeouts in 53.0 innings pitched.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams will next be in action on Wednesday, March 17th, as Fordham hosts Stony Brook at Houlihan Park, beginning at 3:00 PM. The Rams will then have a four-game set with St. John's next weekend with the series being split with two games at Houlihan Park and two at Kaiser Stadium.
