Bronx, N.Y. – (March 22, 2025) – Fordham's
Carson Chavez connected on a walk-off two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to cap an incredible comeback by the Rams, as Fordham defeated the Massachusetts Minutemen, 10-9, on Saturday afternoon at Houlihan Park.
With the win, Fordham (10-13, 4-1 A10) has won four games in a row and six of its last seven, while UMass fell to 6-10-1 overall, 1-4 in the Atlantic 10.
The scoring started in third with a pair of runs by the Minutemen on a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly, while Fordham answered with one run in the bottom on the inning on an error.
UMass went back up by two in the fourth, 3-1, on a fielder's choice, but the Rams tied the game at three with two runs in the fifth on a two-run double by
Taylor Kirk.
The twists and turns of the game continued in the seventh. UMass retook the lead at 7-3 when Jack Beverly hit a grand slam home run, his fourth of the seasons. Fordham came back in the bottom of the frame with a long ball of their own, as
Cian Sahler blasted a three-run home to right center to make it, 7-6.
In the ninth, the Minutemen extended the lead back to three at 9-6 on a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt, but the Rams would not go away in the bottom of the frame.
Tommy Markey opened with a single and moved to second after
Taylor Kirk was hit by a pitch. A walk to Sahler loaded the bases bringing
Andrew Kanellis to the plate. Kanellis lifted a fly ball to left but fell short of the wall for a sacrifice fly, making it 9-7. After a strikeout, pinch-hitter
Chase Hanawalt drew a walk to re-load the bases, while
Matt Dieguez was hit by a pitch to force in a run to put the score at 9-8.
Carson Chavez, hitting in place of
Tommy McAndrews, who was injured earlier in the game, came through for the Rams with a two-run double to left, scoring Sahler and Hanawalt for the walk-off 10-9 victory.
Chavez reached base three times in relief of McAndrews, posting a double, two walks, two runs scored, and two RBI. Kirk finished 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, two stolen bases and two RBI, while Sahler had the three-run home run and two runs scored.
Koen Smith (1-1) got the win in relief, as starter
Mike Rabayda went the first 3.2 innings, allowing two earned runs, while
Beau Elson had six strikeouts and four runs allowed over 4.1 innings of work.
The two team conclude the series on Sunday at Houlihan Park. The game time has been changed from noon to 1:00 PM.
