Bronx, N.Y. – (April 9, 2021) – The Fordham baseball team split a doubleheader with the St. Bonaventure Bonnies to open Atlantic 10 play on Friday afternoon at Houlihan Park.
With the split, the Rams are now 13-7 overall, 1-1 in the Atlantic 10, while the Bonnies are 2-9, 1-1 in the league.
In game one, St. Bonaventure's Liam Devine struck out seven over 8.1 innings, while Kevin Higgins had three hits and two RBI, as the Bonnies took a 7-4 decision.
Fordham opened with the initial lead with a three-run rally in the fourth inning. After back-to-back singles by
Alvin Melendez and
Zach Selinger,
Nick Labella doubled to left center to score Melendez.
Will Findlay followed with a two-run single to make it, 3-0.
The Bonnies would answer in the sixth inning, scoring five times off Fordham reliever
Brooks Ey for a 5-3 lead. With one out, St. Bonaventure loaded the bases and then picked up an RBI-single from Brendan Myers, a two-run double by Garrett Boldt, and a two-run double by Kevin Higgins.
The Bonnies added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth for a 7-3 lead. The Rams tried to rally in the ninth, scoring a run on an RBI-single by
Richard Grund, and loading the bases with two outs, bringing the winning run to the plate. However,
Jason Coules lined out to left field for the final out.
Ey (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over 2.1 innings of work with four strikeouts.
Cameron Knox opened the game with three scoreless innings in his second career start. At the plate, Melendez was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Labella was 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.
Andy Semo
In game two, Fordham's
Garrett Crowley was the dominant force, striking out a career-high 15 batters over seven innings in a 4-1 win.
Crowley made just one mistake in the game, giving up a solo home run to Tyler Kelder in the first inning to fall behind 1-0.
The Rams picked up their teammate, scoring twice in the second for a 2-1 lead.
Andy Semo connected on a one-out double and scored on a two-out single by Grund. After a base hit from
Chris Genaro,
Colton Snelling ripped a single through the left side to score Grund for the lead.
Fordha then added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings on an RBI-double from Selinger and an RBI-single by Genaro for a 4-1 lead.
That was more than enough for Crowley, who allowed just four Bonnies to reach base after the home run. He earned his third win of the season, improving to 3-1, striking out a career-best 15 batters. The 15 punchout were the most for a Fordham pitcher since
Reiss Knehr had 16 strikeouts against Saint Joseph's in 2017. At the plate, Genaro was 2-for-3 with an RBI with Semo having a double and two runs scored.
The same two teams will conclude their series on Saturday with a noon doubleheader.
Gallery: (4-9-2021) Baseball vs. St. Bonaventure
