Bronx, N.Y. – (May 18, 2022) – The 2022 season for the Fordham baseball team all comes down to the final weekend, as the Rams have battled their way into a tie for the final Atlantic 10 Championship playoff spot, while also sitting just a half game back of sixth place.
Fordham (16-33, 9-12 A10) will have its hands full in the final weekend, as the team heads to VCU (33-18, 16-5 A-10), who has already claimed a spot in the conference championship tournament and sit in second place in the Atlantic 10 standings.
PROBABLE STARTERS/GAME COVERAGE:
Thursday: Fordham – RHP
Cameron Knox (3-3) vs. VCU – TBA //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Friday: Fordham – TBA vs. VCU – TBA //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Saturday: Fordham – TBA vs. VCU – TBA //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
OPPONENT OUTLOOK: VCU enters the weekend with a .267 team batting average through 51 games, and have a dangerous lineup, led by Atlantic 10 Player of the Year candidate Tyler Locklear. Locklear is batting .362 with 61 runs scored, 21 doubles, 13 home runs, and 55 RBI, and has been named Player of the Week on multiple occasions. Ben Nippolt and Connor Hujsak are also having high quality seasons for VCU. Nippolt has a .323 batting average to go with 22 RBI, while Hujsak is hitting .301 with 19 doubles, seven home runs and 46 RBI. On the hill, VCU boasts an excellent 3.80 team ERA and are allowing just a .24 batting average. Campbell Ellis has been a top arm starting 17 games with a 3.20 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 59.0 innings.
SERIES HISTORY: Fordham and VCU have met 21 times since the first meeting in 2005. VCU hold a 13-8 edge in the series, but Fordham has had recent success, earning wins at both the 2018 and 2019 Atlantic 10 Championships.
LAST TIME OUT: Villanova struck for five runs in the first inning and never looked back on Tuesday, posting an 8-0 win over the Fordham Rams at Villanova Ballpark in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.
Villanova opened the game with a five-run first inning, sending ten batters to the plate. Jack O'Reilly had a two-run double to start the scoring, followed by a two-run single by Pat O'Neill. Matt Pinone finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
The score remained that way until the fourth, when the Wildcats scored a pair of unearned runs after a Fordham error. Villanova made it 8-0 in the seventh for the final score.
The Rams couldn't muster much on offense, recording just three hits in the game.
Zach Selinger was 1-for-3 with a triple, while
David Kale and
Jack Harnisch had the remaining singles.
Andrew Semo
Fordham threw five pitchers in the game, as
Connor Haywood took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits over two innings.
Jack Popolizio gave up two unearned runs in his two innings of work, while
Jake Clark allowed just one hit in his two innings.
Beau Rottmann and
James Springer finished the game with one inning each.
HEATING UP: Ryan Thiesse has heated up over his last 13 games, batting .484 with eight runs scored and eight RBI… After missing the first 29 games of the year,
David Kale has fit right into the leadoff spot in the 19 games he has appeared in, batting .338 (25-74) with 15 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, three home runs, and 13 RBI…
Andy Semo is hitting .328 (21-64) over his last 18 games with six doubles, and 12 RBI…
Ben Kovel is 1-0 with four saves and a 1.65 ERA in his last 10 appearances out of the bullpen…
Joseph Quintal is 2-0 with two saves and a 2.18 ERA in his last 14 relief appearances to go with 35 strikeouts over 33.0 innings.
WHO'S NEXT: Depending on the results of this weekend, the Rams hope to be at the 2022 Atlantic 10 Championship from May 24-28, which will now be held in Davidson, N.C.
