Kingston, R.I. – (April 27, 2024) – The Fordham offense piled up 10 runs on 14 hits, led by a combined seven base knocks from
Madden Ocko and
Cian Sahler, as the Fordham Rams earned a 10-8 win over the Rhode Island Rams at Bill Beck Field.
For the second straight game, Rhode Island (13-24, 5-9 A10) got on the board first, netting a run in the first inning. With a runner at third and two outs, Eric Genther reached on an infield single to plate Anthony Depino from third.
Fordham (18-23, 9-5 A10) then exploded for five runs in the top of the third for a 5-1 lead. The rally started with base hits by
Ryan Thiesse and
Andrew Kanellis with one away.
Cian Sahler followed with an RBI-double to center to tie the game and extend his hit streak to 18 games, matching Jason Coules (2020-21) for the second-longest hit streak in program history.
After a sacrifice fly by
Tommy McAndrews gave Fordham the lead, the Rams got three consecutive RBI-base hits from
Madden Ocko,
Steve Luttazi, and
Henry Pelinski to build up a 5-1 edge.
Rhode Island got two of those runs back in the bottom of the third, but Fordham answered right back with three runs in the fourth for an 8-3 advantage. Sahler stayed red hot for the Rams with a two-run double, while Ocko hit the right field line for an RBI-double and a five-run lead.
Fordham tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh, as
Chris Genaro cashed in for a two-run double and a 10-3 lead.
URI got back into the game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five times to make it a 10-8 game. The rally was highlighted by a pair of two-run doubles by DJ Perron and Jack Hopko.
Fordham reliever
Aric Berg then took over, recording the final six outs, three on strikeouts, for his fourth save of the season.
Robbie Stewart (2-0) was credited with the win, allowing four runs over three innings of relief with three strikeouts.
At the plate, Ocko recorded his first career four-hit game, going 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI, while Sahler was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, two stolen bases and three RBI. Thiesse and Luttazi each finished with two hits, while Genaro had a pair of RBI.
The series concludes on Sunday at noon.
