Bronx, N.Y. – (March 23, 2025) – Massachusetts' Reece McCarthy connected on an RBI-single in the top of the 11
th inning, which proved to be the difference maker in a 3-2 win by the Minutemen over the Fordham Rams at Houlihan Park on Sunday afternoon.
Fordham (10-14, 4-2 A-10) opened with a 1-0 lead in the second inning, as
Madden Ocko led off with a single, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on an RBI-single by
Reid Lapekas.
UMass knotted the game at one in the fourth on an RBI-single by Marc Willi, which scored Jack Berverly from second.
The score stayed tied all the way to the ninth inning, when UMass grabbed a 2-1 lead on a solo home run down the left field line by Ryan Kolben, his first of the season. Fordham answered with a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
Taylor Kirk started off with a double down the right field line and moved to third on a fly ball.
Andrew Kanellis then singled through the right side to score Kirk. The Rams had a chance to walk off with another win, but UMass turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the rally.
After a scoreless tenth, the Minutemen retook the lead at 3-2 in the 11th. With two on and two out, Reece McCarthy singled over the shortstop to bring home Beverly for the winning tally, as the Rams were unable to score in the bottom of the frame.
Both teams had trouble scoring on Sunday, as UMass left 15 runners on base, while Fordham had 13.
Connor Haywood (0-2) took the loss, allowing one run in 2.1 innings of relief.
Aric Berg got the start, as he returned to the mound for the first time in over a month. He tossed two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, while
Chase Hanawalt threw five innings, allowing one run on three hits with a season-high six strikeouts. At the plate,
Tommy McAndrews was 2-for-3 with a stolen base, while Kanellis was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
Fordham is back on the field on Wednesday, March 26
th, at Wagner for a 3:30 PM game.
