Merion Station, Pa. – (April 29, 2023) – With weather still an issue this weekend, the Fordham Rams and Saint Joseph's Hawks completed their three-game Atlantic 10 series on Saturday with a doubleheader at Smithson Field.
The Hawks picked up the series sweep, defeating Fordham in both ends of the twinbill, 23-10 and 7-1.
In game one, things started out promising for Fordham, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a three-run home run by
Zach Selinger, his ninth of the season.
Saint Joseph's answered with seven straight runs, getting one in the first, four in the second, and two in the third for a 7-3 lead, highlighted by a two-run home run by Luca Trigiani.
The Rams then rallied for six runs in the top of the fourth to re-take the lead at 9-7. After an RBI-single by
Nico Boza pulled Fordham within three,
Ryan Thiesse connected on a three-run home run, his fourth of the year, to knot the game at seven. The Rams followed by re-loading the bases and scoring runs on a wild pitch and an RBI-single by
Peter DeMaria.
The Hawks quickly removed the deficit in the bottom of the inning, sending 18 batters to the plate and scoring 12 runs to go ahead, 19-9.
The remaining scoring in the game for Fordham was a solo home run by Boza in the fifth inning, his second of the season, while the Hawks scored three times in the seventh and once in the eighth for the 23-10 final.
The 33 total runs scored were the most in any Fordham-Saint Joseph's game, besting the previous 32 runs scored on April 14, 1997.
For Fordham, Boza was 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI, while Selinger and Thiesse each had a home run and three RBI.
In game two, the Hawks got out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and did not look back. Saint Joseph's added single runs in the second, fourth, and sixth innings for the 7-0 advantage.
Hawks' starting pitcher Domenic Picone shut down the Fordham offense, giving up just four hits with seven strikeouts over eight innings of work.
The Rams were able to break up the shutout in the ninth inning, as Fordham loaded the bases on three straight singles by Thiesse,
Cian Sahler, and DeMaria.
Tommy McAndrews was then hit by a pitch to force in Thiesse.
For Fordham, DeMaria and Selinger each finished 2-for-4 in the game.
The Rams return home to start a seven-game homestand against NJIT on Tuesday, May 2
nd.
