Bronx, N.Y. – (March 9, 2023) – Fresh off its first win of the season on Wednesday, the Fordham baseball team continues its homestand this weekend, when the Rams host the Quinnipiac Bobcats at Houlihan Park, starting on Friday. Friday's game time has changed to a 1:00 PM start due to potential weather in the New York area.
Fordham (1-11) topped Saint Peter's, 11-0, behind a two-hit shutout by the Fordham pitching staff. Quinnipiac (4-6) enters this weekend after being swept at Elon last weekend.
PROBABLE STARTERS/GAME COVERAGE:
Friday – 1:00 PM - Fordham – RHP
Declan Lavelle (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. Quinnipiac – RHP Jimmy Hagan (1-1, 4.20 ERA) //
Live Audio |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Saturday – 1:00 PM - Fordham – RHP
Gabe Karslo (0-2, 8.25 ERA) vs. Quinnipiac – RHP – Tim Blaisdell (0-2, 6.00 ERA) //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
Sunday – 12:00 PM - Fordham – RHP
Connor Haywood (0-0, 10.29 ERA) vs. Quinnipiac – RHP Kevin Seitter (0-2, 5.40 ERA) //
Live Video (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Twitter - @FordhamBaseball
SERIES HISTORY: Fordham and Quinnipiac have only played three times against each other with the Rams taking two of those three games. The two teams split a doubleheader during the 2012 season, while in 2014, Fordham posted an 8-6 win over the Bobcats at Houlihan Park.
OPPONENT OUTLOOK: Quinnipiac is 4-6 on the season with a .231 batting average and a 5.72 team ERA. The Bobcats have had a pretty consistent lineup with seven players having started all ten games this season. Leading the way, Sebastian Mueller is the top hitter at .375 on the season with seven runs scored and four RBI, while Anthony Donofrio is batting .324 with three home runs and 11 RBI. On the hill, Quinnipiac is led by Jimmy Hagan and Tim Blaisdell at the top of the rotation. Hagan is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 15.0 innings, while Blaisdell is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 12.0 innings of work.
LAST TIME OUT (3/8): Five Fordham pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout, as the Rams earned their first win of the season by an 11-0 score over Saint Peter's on Wednesday afternoon at Houlihan Park.
Fordham posted two runs in the first inning, which began with a walk to
Ryan Thiesse, followed by an RBI-triple by
Daniel Bucciero. Bucciero then scored on a ground out by
Peter DeMaria for a 2-0 edge.
The Rams then repeated that scoring in the second.
Michael Taylor started the frame with a walk and scored on a triple by
Ryan Rockhill.
Nico Boza then connected on a sacrifice fly to left to score Rockhill.
Fordham added two more runs in the fourth inning to make it a 6-0 game. With two outs,
Will Findlay scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a double to left.
Ryan Meyer then singled home Boza from third after he reached on a fielder's choice.
The Rams poured on more offense with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth for an 11-0 lead. In the fifth, Fordham loaded the bases with Findlay being hit by a pitch to force in a run. Taylor then laced a double down the left field line to score two runs. The sixth inning saw a two-run double by Findlay, scoring DeMaria and Bucciero.
The 11 runs were more than enough for the Fordham pitching staff, where five Rams combined for a two-hit shutout.
Dominic Cunha (1-1) recorded the win, allowing one hit with two strikeouts over the first four innings, while
William Simeone tossed two innings of one-hit relief with four strikeouts.
Ryan Egan,
Gannon Brady, and
Trey Maeker finished the game with one scoreless inning each.
At the plate, Findlay was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI, while Bucciero was 1-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI-triple. Taylor was also 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and two walks for the Rams.
GOIN' STREAKIN': Through the opening 12 games, freshman
Daniel Bucciero is Fordham's leading hitter at .444 with five doubles and eight RBI, while having a current six-game hitting streak... Graduate transfer
Peter DeMaria is tied for the team lead in RBI with eight over the first 12 games... Sophomore
Cian Sahler is on a career-high seven-game hitting streak, batting .333 in that span with four runs scored, two doubles, and three RBI... Junior
Ryan Thiesse is hitting .385 in his last seven games (10-26) with seven runs scored.
RAMS AT THE WBC: Fordham baseball is proud to have two of their former players taking part in this year's World Baseball Classic. Nick Martinez (Fordham – 2009-11) will be a part of Team USA, while Jake Rabinowitz (Fordham – 2006-09) will be pitching for the Czech Republic.
RAMSES CHALLENGE: As a part of a new fundraising challenge this season, fans can pledge support for the team in the Ramses Challenge for each win, home run hit, or pitcher's strikeout this season.
Be a part of the challenge by clicking here.
WHO'S NEXT: The Rams finished their six-game homestand on Tuesday, March 14
th, when they host Lafayette at 3:00 PM at Houlihan Park.
