Williamsburg, Va. – (March 8, 2024) – With poor weather in the forecast on Saturday, the Fordham baseball team was in action twice on Friday in a doubleheader against William & Mary, dropping both ends by scores of 5-0 and 10-6 in Williamsburg, Virginia.
In game one, the game was scoreless into the fourth inning, when Nate Goranson hit a solo home run to left for a 1-0 William & Mary lead. Goranson then made it 3-0 in the sixth, connecting on his second home run of the day, this time a two-run shot to left.
The Tribe increased the lead to 5-0 in the seventh on an RBI-double from Ben Parker and a bases loaded hit by pitch to Luca Trigiani.
The Rams had plenty of chances to score in the game, but could not cash in, going 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position. A trio of William & Mary pitchers combined for the six-hit shutout and struck out 13 Ram batters.
Fordham's starting pitcher
Declan Lavelle (1-2) was the hard luck loser, giving up three runs on five hits over six innings of work.
Ryan Thiesse posted the lone multi-hit game for the Rams, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk.
In game two, the Rams broke through with two runs in the first inning on a two-run single to right by
Andrew Kanellis and later got a sacrifice fly by Kanellis in the third inning for a 3-0 advantage.
William & Mary got two runs in the bottom of the third and then got a bases loaded double by Joe de los Santos for three runs in the fourth inning to grab a 5-3 edge.
The Rams answered with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to regain the lead at 6-5. Kanellis continued his big game, driving his fourth run of the game with a single in the fifth, while
Ryan Thiesse and
Daniel Bucciero drove in runs in the sixth.
The lead lasted into the seventh, where the Tribe netted three runs for an 8-6 lead, highlighted by a home run by de los Santos.
The Rams were primed to answer back in the eighth, loading the bases with one out. However, Zack Potts struck out
Steve Luttazi and got
Tommy McAndrews to fly out to end the rally. The Tribe then added two more runs in the bottom of the frame for the 10-6 final.
For Fordham, Kanellis finished 2-for-4 with a season-high four RBI, while Thiesse went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Bucciero was also 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.
The same two teams will close out the series on Sunday with a 1:00 PM game.
