Bronx, N.Y. – (May 13, 2021) – After eight days off, the Fordham Rams are back in action at Houlihan Park this weekend in a pivotal Atlantic 10 series, as they host the La Salle Explorers, starting on Friday afternoon.
Fordham (20-15, 7-5 A-10) will have its work cut out for them to make up some ground in the standings on the Atlantic 10 North Division leader Explorers (29-16, 12-4 A-10), who are currently having one of their best seasons in recent memory, led by the hitting duo of Ryan Guckin and Tatem Levins, who are both hitting over .300 with a combined 48 extra-base hits and 90 RBI.
PROBABLE STARTERS/GAME COVERAGE:
Friday: Fordham – RHP
Brooks Ey (0-3, 4.43 ERA) vs. La Salle – LHP Chris Scanlon (6-2, 3.29 ERA) //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Saturday (G1): Fordham – LHP
Matt Mikulski (7-0, 1.33 ERA) vs. La Salle – LHP Jordan Morales (1-5, 5.15 ERA) //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Saturday (G2): Fordham – RHP
Gabe Karslo (4-1, 2.76 ERA) vs. La Salle – RHP Frank Elissalt (6-2, 3.15 ERA) //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Sunday: Fordham – LHP
Garrett Crowley (3-3, 5.09 ERA) vs. La Salle – LHP Gabe Rappa (3-1, 5.47 ERA) //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
SERIES HISTORY: The Rams and Explorers are long-time conference rival dating back to their days in the MAAC. There have been 65 previous meetings between the two schools with Fordham holding a 40-24-1. The Rams have won the last five meetings with the last match-ups being a 2019 series sweep at Houlihan Park.
LAST TIME OUT (5/5): Army's Nick Manesis scored four runs and drove in a pair, while Tanner Gresham tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, as the Black Knights outlasted the Fordham Rams, 11-8, in 10 innings at a rain-soaked Houlihan Park.
After raining in the morning and into the afternoon, the sky dried up just in time to start the game with Army jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run by Nick Manesis, his fifth of the season. Fordham then tied the game at two in the second.
Zach Selinger was hit by a pitch and scored on a triple by
Colton Snelling. He then scored on a ground out by
Michael Taylor.
The Rams then took the lead, scoring once in the third and fifth innings to go up by a 4-2 count on RBI-ground outs from
Jason Coules and
Alvin Melendez. The Black Knights answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game at four, but Fordham responded in the bottom of the frame, when
Trey Maeker connected on a three-run home run to right, his third of the year, for a 7-4 lead.
Army clawed its way back as did the rain, eventually taking the lead after scoring twice in the seventh and eighth innings at 8-7. Fordham then rallied in the ninth to tie the game at eight. With one out,
Nick Labella singled through the left side and was pinch run for by
Ryan Thiesse.
Chris Genaro then singled up the middle with Thiesse heading for third. The throw got away from the third baseman and went out of play, allowing Thiesse to score. However, the Rams could not plate Genaro from second, forcing the game into extra innings.
In the tenth, the runner on second tie-breaker rule was put in play, and Army put it to use, scoring three times in the inning for an 11-8 advantage. The Rams did not have the same luck, as they were retired in order by reliever Tanner Gresham, who improved to 4-0 on the season.
Joseph Quintal (2-1) took the loss in relief, allowing three runs over two innings of work, as six Fordham pitchers saw action. At the plate, Guercio was 2-for-5 with a triple and a run scored, while Maeker was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Snelling was also 1-for-3 scoring two runs with a triple and an RBI.
Gabe Karslo
MIKULSKI CONTINUES TO IMPRESS: Heading toward the end of the regular season, Fordham senior
Matt Mikulski looks to complete one of the best single seasons in program history. Already a four-time Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week, he is on both the Golden Spikes Award and National Pitcher of the Year Watch Lists and has climbed up the Fordham record book to possibly set some new marks.
On the year, Mikulski is 7-0 with a 1.33 ERA in 54.1 innings with a career-high 102 strikeouts. Through games played on May 12
th, he currently leads the NCAA and Atlantic 10 in strikeouts per nine innings at 16.90, while being second in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings (3.64). He is also fourth in the NCAA in overall strikeouts, eighth in ERA, and ninth in WHIP (0.83).
On record book watch, the 102 strikeouts by Mikulski is tied for the third all-time at Fordham with former teammate
John Stankiewicz in 2019 while only trailing Dick Egan's 107 in 1909 and Hank Borowy's school record mark of 115 in 1939. He is also chasing Javier Martinez's career strikeout mark of 264 (2004-07) with 250 to date. Another milestone to watch is career wins, as Mikulski is one shy of becoming the 11
th Ram to have 20 career wins.
KARSLO STEPPING UP: Fordham has seen great work out of
Matt Mikulski all year, but not far behind in effectiveness is junior
Gabe Karslo. He has already set career-highs in wins (4) and innings pitched (42.1) this season, while his 2.76 ERA is on pace to be a personal-best. He is also holding opponents to a .201 average, while his 33 strikeouts is one shy of his career-high.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams will wrap up the regular season next weekend with a four-game series at St. Bonaventure, May 20-22.
