Bridgeport, Conn. – (April 29, 2025) – Sacred Heart's Mitch Hawkins allowed one earned run over six innings, while Gavin Donohue and Dante D'Amore each hit a home run, as the Pioneers edged the Fordham Rams, 5-4, at Veterans Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Fordham opened the scoring in the first inning, netting a pair of runs.
Taylor Kirk led off with a single and moved to second on a walk to
Daniel Bucciero. After a double steal, both Kirk and Bucciero came in to score on a single by
Andrew Kanellis.
Sacred Heart made it 2-1 in the second on an RBI-single by Ronan Donohue, and then tied the game at two in the third inning on a bases loaded walk.
The Pioneers then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth, as an error by the Rams eventually led to another bases loaded walk to force in a run. Gavin Donohue and Dante D'Amore then hit solo home runs in the sixth for a 5-2 edge. For Donohue, it was his seventh of the season, while being the third for D'Amore.
The Rams tried to rally in the late innings, loading the bases in the seven and eighth innings, but were unable to score. Then in the ninth, Bucciero drew a walk, which was followed by a two-run home run by Kanellis, his eighth of the season, to pull Fordham within one, 5-4.
Tommy McAndrews then reached on a single to put the tying run aboard, but a fly out and two ground outs ended the comeback effort.
Connor Haywood (0-3) took the loss in relief, allowing one unearned run over 2.1 innings of work. Starter
Zach Karson went the first 2.2 innings giving up two runs on four hits with
Ryan Egan also allowing two runs in his two innings of work.
Gannon Brady pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
At the plate, Kanellis went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI, while Kirk was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Bucciero finished with two walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base.
Fordham will next be in action on Friday, May 2
nd, when the Rams host Rhode Island to open a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Houlihan Park, starting at 6:00 PM.
