Fairfield, Conn. – (April 22, 2025) – Two big rallies in the early innings doomed the Fordham Rams on Tuesday afternoon against the Fairfield Stags, falling by an 11-7 score at Cook Field in Fairfield, Connecticut. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Rams.
Fairfield bolted out of the gate in the first inning, scoring five unearned runs off two Fordham errors. The big hit of the inning was a two-run home run by TJ Schmalzle, his fifth of the season.
The Stags made it, 11-0, in the third inning with a six-run rally, once again benefiting from a Ram error. Fairfield loaded the bases with one out and got a grand slam home run from Sean Meth to go up, 9-0, and then got a two-run home run by Luke Nomura for the 11-0 advantage. It was Meth's fourth of the year and Nomura's 12
th.
Fordham got on the board in the fourth, stringing three consecutive doubles together by
Madden Ocko,
Tommy McAndrews, and
Cian Sahler to score twice.
The Rams then netted three runs in the sixth using the long ball. After a walk to
Andrew Kanellis, Ocko connected on a two-run home run to left, his second of the season. McAndrews went back-to-back launching a solo home run to left center, his fifth of the year.
Fordham made it 11-6 in the seventh on an RBI-single by Kanellis, scoring
Taylor Kirk, who reached base on a fielder's choice and stole second. The Rams then closed the scoring in the ninth with a solo home run by
Daniel Bucciero, his fifth of the season.
Ameer Hasan (1-1) took the loss in his return from injury, allowing three earned runs over 2.2 innings of work. The bullpen trio of
Andres Perez (2.1 IP, 3 H),
A.J. Pino (2 IP, 3 K), and
Ryan Egan (1 IP, 2 K) were solid, pitching a combined 5.1 innings of scoreless relief. At the plate, Ocko and McAndrews each had two hits, two runs scored, a home run, and two RBI, while Kanellis was 2-for-3 with two walks and an RBI.
The Rams are next in action on Wednesday, April 23
rd, as they host Manhattan for a 3:00 PM game at Houlihan Park.
