Bronx, N.Y. – (April 14, 2023) – If the mid-80s temperature wasn't hot enough for fans, the Fordham Rams and George Washington Colonials both had hot bats, combining for 29 runs and 29 hits at Houlihan Park on Friday afternoon. In the end, the last Fordham batter without a hit proved to be the difference maker, as
Tommy McAndrews connected on a walk-off double to score
Chris Genaro to give the Rams a 15-14 win.
After each team scored twice in the first inning, Fordham (14-20, 3-4 A10) grabbed a 5-2 lead in the second inning.
Chris Genaro started things with a single and a stolen base with one out.
Ryan Thiesse followed with an RBI-single and a stolen base of his own for a 3-2 lead.
Daniel Bucciero then drove in Thiesse with a triple to center and scored on an errant throw from the centerfielder to make it, 5-2.
The Colonials (11-24, 2-5 A10) answered with a six-run fourth inning to take an 8-5 lead, highlighted by a three-run home run by Eddie Michelleti, Jr., his third of the season.
After George Washington added a run in the fifth, Fordham posted three runs in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap to 9-8.
Will Findlay got things started with a two-out double down the left field line, followed by a two-run home to center by
Zach Selinger, his team-leading seventh of the season. The Rams got the final run off an error.
The Colonials then rallied for a run in the sixth, two in the seventh, and one in the eighth to build up a 13-8 advantage. The biggest damage was a two-run home run by Alexander Wright in the seventh, his second of the year.
Fordham followed with a big six-run rally in the bottom of the eighth to re-take the lead at 14-13.
Michael Taylor began the frame with a double to left and scored on a one-out single by Thiesse. Bucciero then doubled to left center to put two in scoring position. After a strikeout,
Peter DeMaria connected on a two-run double to right center to close the gap to 13-11.
The Rams then loaded the bases as Findlay was hit by a pitch with Selinger drawing a walk, bringing
Cian Sahler to the plate. Sahler delivered for the Rams, connecting on a bases clearing double over the centerfielder's head to give Fordham a 14-13 lead.
The Colonials made it a short-lived lead, tying the game at 14 in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI-single by Sam Gates.
Fordham though took advantage of one more mistake by George Washington in the bottom of the ninth, as Genaro hit a comebacker to pitcher Chris Knight, who threw the ball over first base and into the Fordham bullpen, allowing Genaro to reach second base. After a foul out and a strikeout,
Tommy McAndrews, the last Ram without a hit in the game, delivered a double to center to score Genaro for the walk-off 15-14 win.
For Fordham, Thiesse finished the game 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBI, while DeMaria was 2-for-5 with a double and four RBI. Sahler ended up 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI with Selinger posting two runs scored and a two-run home run. Bucciero, Findlay, and Genaro also posted multi-hit games for the Rams.
Game two of this three-game series is slated for 1:00 PM on Saturday. It will be Baseball Alumni Day, where Fordham Baseball will be honoring the late John "Charlie" Vanacore in a pregame ceremony, starting at 12:45 PM.
