Norfolk, Va. – (February 26, 2023) – After being rained out on Saturday, the Fordham baseball team dropped by ends of a doubleheader at Old Dominion on Sunday at Bud Metheny Ballpark in Norfolk, Virginia.
In the opening game, Robbie O'Neal drove in a game-high four runs to lead Old Dominion to an 11-3 win.
After a scoreless first inning, the Monarchs used the long ball to score three runs in second for a 3-0 lead. Alex Bouche led off the inning with a solo home run to left center, followed by a two-run home run to center by Robbie O'Neal.
The long ball struck again in the fourth inning, when Camden Grimes hit a solo home run to left center to extend Old Dominion's lead to 4-0.
Fordham got on the board in the top of the fifth, as the Rams loaded the bases on a single by
Jack Vallario, an error, and a hit by pitch.
Peter DeMaria then drove in the Rams' opening run with an infield single to make it 4-1.
ODU got that run right back as Hunter Fitz-Gerald hit a solo home run to make it 5-1.
The Rams picked up two runs in the eighth to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Michael Brueser led off with a walk and moved to second on a single by
Daniel Bucciero. TJ Wachter then laced a two-run double to right field to score Brueser and Bucciero.
The Monarchs then punctuated the game with a six-run eighth inning to finish off the 11-3 win.
For Fordham, Bucciero and
Jack Vallario each had two hits in the game to lead the offense. On the mound,
Ben Kovel (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits over four innings of work, while
William Simeone gave up one run over two innings of relief with four strikeouts.
In game two, Fordham got off to a good start with a solo home run by DeMaria in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
The Monarchs answered with the next 19 runs, going on to the 19-1 win.
Old Dominion totaled 11 extra-base hits in the game, which included four home runs, led by Luke Waters, who was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double, two home runs, and four RBI.
For Fordham,
Ryan Thiesse and
Michael Taylor each had two hits in the game, as the Rams totaled seven hits.
Nolan Hughes (0-2) was charged with the loss, allowing six earned runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings of work.
Fordham will next be in action on Wednesday, March 1
st, as the Rams have their home opener against Fairleigh Dickinson at Houlihan Park, beginning at 3:00 PM.
