Fairfax, Va. – (May 16, 2025) – Behind a 13-run barrage and an outstanding effort on the mound from
Ameer Hasan, the Fordham Rams took down the George Mason Patriots, 13-3, at Spuhler Field on Friday afternoon.
The win coupled with losses by Richmond and Dayton today allowed the Rams (24-31, 14-15 A-10) to clinch a spot in next week's Atlantic 10 Championship.
Fordham got out to an immediate 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Taylor Kirk opened the inning with a single and moved to third on a double by
Daniel Bucciero.
Andrew Kanellis then chopped a double over the third baseman down the left field line to score both runners.
Cian Sahler later singled up the middle to score Kanellis.
The Rams added two more runs in the second, as Fordham loaded the bases and got a two-run single by Kanellis for a 5-0 lead.
Fordham made it 6-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Kanellis led off with a single and moved to second on a ground out. After an infield single,
Madden Ocko singled home Kanellis for the six-run lead.
The Rams tacked on two more runs in the fifth on an RBI-single by Kirk and a sacrifice fly by
Anthony Grabau, putting the lead at 8-0. Three more runs came in the sixth for the Rams for an 11-0 lead, highlighted by an RBI-double by
Tommy McAndrews.
After George Mason scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, Ocko answered with a two-run home run to left in the top of the eighth, his fourth of the season, putting the score at 13-2.
The Patriots got the final run of the game in the eighth but were held in check by Fordham's pitching duo of
Ameer Hasan and
Ryan Egan. Hasan improved to 3-1 on the year, allowing three runs on six hits over seven-plus innings of work with four strikeouts. Egan recorded the final six outs, giving up just one hit.
At the plate, Kanellis was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI, while Ocko was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run, and three RBI. Kirk finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored, three stolen bases, and two RBI with Bucciero and Sahler each having a pair of hits.
The final game of the series is set for 12:00 PM on Saturday.
