Dayton, Ohio – (March 29, 2024) – Behind a career-best performance by
Declan Lavelle and nine extra-base hits by the Rams' offense, the Fordham Rams posted a 12-2 win over the Dayton Flyers to open Atlantic 10 play at Woerner Field.
This was Fordham's first conference opening win since 2019 and the first on the road since 2009.
Fordham (9-16, 1-0 A10) opened the game with their best first inning of the season, scoring three times for the initial lead.
Daniel Bucciero started the rally with a double and moved to third on a bunt single by
Ryan Thiesse.
Andrew Kanellis then doubled home both runners for a 2-0 lead.
T.J. Wachter followed with an RBI-double of his own for a three-run lead.
The Rams used the long ball to extend the lead in the third inning, when
Tommy McAndrews connected on a two-run home run to left, his second of the season, scoring Kanellis, who reached on an infield single.
Bucciero made it 6-0 in the fourth inning, plating
Chris Genaro with an RBI-single to left. Genaro reached second on a hit by a pitch and a wild pitch.
The score remained that way until the seventh, as Dayton (15-11, 0-1 A10) scored twice to make it, 6-2. The Flyers picked up runs on RBI-singles by David Mendez and Nolan Watson.
The Rams answered right back with two runs in the eighth to put the lead back to six, 8-2. Genaro started the rally with a double off the left field wall and scored on an RBI-single by
Ryan Thiesse. Kanellis followed with an RBI-triple to score Thiesse.
Fordham then capped the game with a four-run ninth inning for the 12-2 win.
Cian Sahler and Bucciero each had an RBI-double in the inning with Genaro having an RBI-single and Thiesse ripping an RBI-triple.
The 12 runs of support was plenty for Fordham starter
Declan Lavelle, who improved to 3-3 on the season. He threw a career-best seven innings, allowing two runs with four strikeouts for the win, while
Aric Berg and
Brixton Lofgren each threw a scoreless inning of relief.
At the plate,
Andrew Kanellis was a home run short of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two runs scored, and three RBI, while Bucciero and Thiesse both had three hits, two runs scored, and two RBI each. Genaro was also 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI with Wachter also having two hits and an RBI.
Game two of the series is set for 1:00 PM on Saturday afternoon.
