Baseball Completes Series Sweep of NJIT

Bronx, N.Y. – (March 7, 2021) – It was still a bit cold at Houlihan Park on Sunday afternoon, but the Fordham Rams stayed hot in their opening baseball series, taking both ends of a doubleheader from the NJIT Highlanders to complete a series sweep.  Fordham is now 3-0 for first time since 2005.
 
In game one, Nick Labella drove in C.J. Vazquez with an RBI-single in the bottom of the 11^th inning to complete a 5-4 walk-off come-from-behind win for the Rams.
 
After NJIT took the initial 1-0 lead in the first, Fordham scored twice in the third for a 2-1 lead.  The Rams got three consecutive doubles from C.J. Vazquez, Casey Brown, and Jason Coules to net the two runs with Brown and Coules each getting an RBI.
 
The score stayed that way until the seventh, as NJIT scored three times to take a 4-2 edge.  The Rams got a run back in the bottom of the frame to make it 4-3 on an RBI-double by Nick Labella, scoring Coules, who doubled earlier in the inning.

 
Then in the ninth, Fordham loaded the bases with two outs on singles by Vazquez and Zach Selinger and a walk to Labella.  A pitch then squeaked through the legs of NJIT catcher Paul Franzoni to allow Vazquez to score on a passed ball.
 
The game went into the 11^th inning, where Fordham completed the comeback.  With Vazquez and Coules at first and second with two outs, the duo pulled off a double steal to put the winning run at third.  Labella then roped a single to left center over the shortstop to score Vazquez for the walk-off win.
 
Vazquez finished 2-for-5 in the game with a double, three runs scored, and a career-high four stolen bases.  Coules was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two stolen bases, and a run scored, while Labella was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
 
On the hill, Gabe Karslo (1-0) got the win in relief, pitching the final two innings of the game, allowing one hit.  Brooks Ey made his debut as the starter, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts over four innings of work.  Michael Ghiorzi pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one earned run with Ben Kovel throwing 2.2 innings of one-hit relief.
 
Game two saw more of the same as the Rams came away with an 8-2 win in seven innings.

 
Fordham opened up a 4-0 lead by the third inning, scoring once in the first on an error, while picking up three in the third inning on RBI-singles from Coules and Labella and an RBI-double by Selinger.
 
NJIT netted a run in the fourth, but Fordham broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning for an 8-1 lead.  Selinger opened the frame with a single and stole second.  Colton Snelling then looped a double into left center that couldn't be caught, allowing Selinger to move to third.  After a walk to Jake Guercio loaded the bases, Selinger scored on a wild pitch.  Vazquez hen lifted a fly ball to right which the right fielder dropped, allowing two runs to score.  The Rams then capped the inning with an RBI-triple by Coules.
 
NJIT scored once in the seventh for the 8-2 final score.
 
Garrett Crowley (1-0) earned the win in his first start, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over four innings of work.  Cameron Knox pitched two hitless innings of relief with a pair of strikeouts, while Joseph Quintal had a strikeout in the final inning.
 
At the plate, Coules was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, as he extended his hit streak from last season to 16 games.  Selinger went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI with Vazquez going 1-for-3 with three runs scored and a stolen base.
 
The Rams are next in action on Tuesday, March 9^th, as they play at Stony Brook, beginning at 2:00 PM.