Bronx, N.Y. – (February 22, 2022) – Following a three-game series at Texas A&M this weekend, the Fordham Rams return home to Houlihan Park for the first time in 2022 on Wednesday, when they host the Sacred Heart Pioneers for the team's home opener.
Despite falling in all three games on the weekend, Fordham (0-3) hung tough with the Aggies for most of the series, dropping the final two games by 5-3 and 5-4 scores. For Sacred Heart, Wednesday's game will be its season opener with former Fordham head coach
Nick Restaino at the helm.
PROBABLE STARTERS/GAME COVERAGE:
Fordham – RHP
Cameron Knox (0-0, 0.00) vs. Sacred Heart – RHP Jake Babuschak (0-0, 0.00) //
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SERIES HISTORY: Fordham is 11-6 all-time against Sacred Heart with the two teams splitting games last season. The Rams earned a 10-0 win at Houlihan Park in early March, while Sacred Heart posted a 10-4 win in late March. The win by Sacred Heart snapped a seven-game win streak by Fordham in the series.
LAST TIME OUT: Leading 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Fordham baseball team had their minds set on pulling out a series-ending win at Texas A&M on Sunday at Blue Bell Park. Unfortunately, Logan Britt had other ideas, connecting on a two-run home run to left to lift the Aggies past the Rams.
Sebastian Mexico connect on a bases-clearing double
For the second time in the series, Fordham took the initial lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning. After a hit by pitch, a sacrifice bunt, and a walk,
Ryan Meyer sliced a single into left field to score
Andy Semo from second for a 1-0 advantage. The Rams held that lead through the fifth inning due to a spectacular start from
Jack Popolizio, who threw five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with three strikeouts over that span.
In the sixth, Fordham went to
Joseph Quintal out of the bullpen, as was greeted quickly by Brett Minnich, who connected on a solo home run to center to knot the game at one.
The Rams answered right back in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. Texas A&M went to the bullpen for Walker Zander, while Fordham opted for pinch-hitter
Sebastian Mexico. Mexico came through for the Rams, drilling a double to the right center gap, and clearing the bases for a 4-1 Rams' lead. The Aggies pulled back within two at 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, but Quintal was able to work out of jams in that inning as well as the eighth to put Fordham within three outs of a win.
However, Dylan Rock delivered a pinch-hit single up the middle, bringing Logan Britt to the plate as the winning run. Britt and Quintal battled to a nine-pitch at bat, which ended with Britt's two-run home run to left center.
HOME OPENER SUCCESS: The Rams have been excellent in home openers since Houlihan Park was refitted for the 2006 season. Fordham is a perfect 16-0 in the first home game of the year at Houlihan Park. The last home opening loss for the Rams came in 2000.
HOULIHAN PARK TO HOST 2022 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP: For the fifth time, Fordham University's Houlihan Park will play host to the Atlantic 10 Championship in 2022. The Championship will take place May 24-28. Previously, Houlihan Park hosted the Atlantic 10 Championship in 2006, 2012, 2016, and 2019. The Rams hope to repeat the most recent result in 2019, when Fordham captured the league crown for the first time since 1998.
FORDHAM PICKED SIXTH IN A-10 PRESEASON COACHES POLL (2/15): The Atlantic 10 Conference announced its preseason baseball coaches' poll for the 2022 season with the Fordham Rams picked sixth in the 12-team poll.
VCU earned the top spot with 11 first place votes, followed by Dayton, who was the only other team to receive a first-place vote. Rhode Island was listed third, followed by Saint Louis, Davidson, Fordham, and George Washington to round out the top seven. The remaining teams in the poll were Richmond, Saint Joseph's, George Mason, Massachusetts, and St. Bonaventure.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams will get back on the road this weekend for a three-game series at Virginia Tech, February 25-27.
