Amherst, Mass. – (April 14, 2024) – Trailing 4-0 after the first inning, the Fordham baseball team did not let the early deficit deter them on Sunday afternoon at Earl Loren Field. The Rams rallied all the way back, capped by a three-run home run by
Henry Pelinski, to post a 6-5 win over the Massachusetts Minutemen in Amherst.
With the win, Fordham improved to 13-21 overall, 5-4 in the Atlantic 10, while UMass fell to 11-20 on the year,
The Minutemen got out to a quick start with a four-run first inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by Mike Gervasi.
Fordham cracked the scoreboard in the second, when
Tommy McAndrews connected on a solo home run to left, his third of the season.
The Rams closed to within one with two runs in the sixth. Fordham loaded the bases and picked up runs on a hit by pitch for
Steve Luttazi and a sacrifice fly by
Madden Ocko.
The Minutemen went back ahead by two in the seventh inning at 5-3 when Gervasi hit his second home run of the game, this time a solo shot.
Fordham then grabbed its first lead of the game in the top of the eighth, when
Henry Pelinski lifted a three-run home run to left for a 6-5 advantage. It was Pelinski's first home run of the season.
Aric Berg handled the rest as he closed out the win for Fordham, evening his record at 4-4 on the year. He pitched the final three innings, allowing one run with two strikeouts.
Andres Perez tossed the opening 2.2 innings, followed by 2.1 scoreless innings from
Connor Haywood and a scoreless frame by
Brixton Lofgren.
At the plate, McAndrews was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, and a home run, while Pelinski had a three-run home run. Ocko was also 2-for-4 with an RBI.
The Rams will next be in action on Tuesday, April 16
th, when the team begins a five-game homestand against the Sacred Heart Pioneers at 3:00 PM.
