Bronx, N.Y. – (May 3, 2024) – Behind a six-run sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by
Henry Pelinski, and three scoreless innings of relief by Zack Karson, the Fordham Rams posted an 8-6 win over the Saint Joseph's Hawks at Houlihan Park on Friday night.
Fordham (19-25, 10-6 A10) scored the first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the second inning.
Cian Sahler led off with a double to right center, tying the school record with a hit in 21 straight games, held by Bob DiVincenzo (1977) and Ray Montgomery (1988). After a sacrifice,
Madden Ocko plated Sahler from third with a sacrifice fly.
Saint Joseph's (18-23, 6-10 A10) answered with a big rally in the fourth inning, scoring five times. The Hawks got a two-run home run by Ryan Weingartner and a solo home run by Owen Petrich for a 3-1 lead. Later in the frame, Luke Zimmerman connected on a two-run single for a 5-1 advantage.
Ryan Picollo made it 6-1 with a sacrifice fly to center in the fifth, scoring Weingartner from third after he reached on a double.
The Rams then put together a massive rally in the sixth, scoring six times for a 7-6 lead. Fordham loaded the bases with no outs on singles by
Ryan Thiesse and Sahler and a walk to
Andrew Kanellis. After a wild pitch scored Thiesse,
Tommy McAndrews singled home Kanellis to make it, 6-3.
Madden Ocko followed with a walk to load the bases, while
Steve Luttazi pushed a run across on a groundout.
Henry Pelinski then came up with the biggest hit, a three-run home run to right field for his second home run of the season and a 7-6 edge for the Rams.
Fordham tacked on another run in the eighth on an RBI-double by Luttazi for a two-run advantage, 8-6.
Aric Berg came on to close out the game in the ninth, recording two strikeouts for his fifth save of the season. Zack Karson (1-0) recorded the win with some outstanding relief work, pitching three perfect innings with three strikeouts.
At the plate, Sahler and McAndrews were both 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Pelinski had a home run and three RBI.
The same two teams match up for game two of their series on Saturday at 2:00 PM.
Gallery: (5-3-2024) Baseball vs. Saint Joseph's
