Bronx, N.Y. – (February 26, 2025) – Behind an offensive explosion, the Fordham baseball team opened its home schedule with an 18-10 win over the Iona Gaels at Houlihan Park on Wednesday afternoon.
The win moved Fordham to 2-6 on the young season and to 9-0 all-time in home February games.
The game did not start well for the Rams, allowing six runs in the second inning to the Gaels. The inning was highlighted by a two-run double by Nickolas Mora and a two-run single by Anthony Febo.
Fordham clawed its way back into the game with a four-run third inning, sending nine batters to the plate. With two on and one out,
Daniel Bucciero got the Rams on the board with an RBI-single, followed by a two-run double from
Matt Dieguez.
Andrew Kanellis capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
After Iona scored once in the top of the fourth, Fordham answered with two in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice by Bucciero and an RBI-single by
Madden Ocko.
The Rams then took their first lead in the fifth, netting four runs for a 10-7 lead. After the first run came in on an error, Bucciero posted his second sacrifice fly of the game, while Ocko had a two-run double.
Iona pulled back within one in the sixth at 10-9 on a two-run home run by JC Frias, his second of the year.
Fordham responded with an eight-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to go up by an 18-9 score.
Tommy Markey got the inning rolling with a two-run double, while
Taylor Kirk recorded an RBI-triple. After an RBI-single by
Reid Lapekas and an RBI-double by
Madden Ocko, Kanellis connected on a three-run home run to right for his first of the season.
The Gaels closed out the scoring with a single run in the seventh for the 18-10 final.
At the plate, Ocko was 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and four RBI, while Kanellis went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI. Bucciero drove in three runs with Kirk and Markey each scoring four runs each.
Jack Clark (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing two runs over 1.1 innings of work.
The Rams will next be in action on Friday, February 28
th, as they head to FAU for the first game of a three-game series in Boca Raton, Florida. Game time is set for 6:30 PM.
