Sophomore outfielder Mark Donadio has been a key to the Rams’ recent success. Ram Archives
By Sam Belden
After starting out the season with a series of road trips, Fordham baseball was glad to return to the Bronx two weeks ago. The homestand, which began on March 10, has been a successful one for the Rams. They were up-and-down over the first few games, defeating Manhattan, falling short against Stony Brook and splitting a two game series with Sacred Heart. After dropping its next contest to Delaware, Fordham heated up and won its next two, including a come-from-behind victory over UMass Lowell and a thrilling one-run game versus Hofstra.
After posting four wins and three losses since its return to New York, the team was gearing up for the Strike Out Cancer Tournament hosted by Seton Hall, originally scheduled for last weekend, but the weather had other plans. The wet and snowy conditions forced the cancellation of all three of Fordham’s scheduled games. On Sunday, however, sunshine finally prevailed, and the Rams hosted the NYIT Bears for a doubleheader. When all was said and done, Fordham came away with two victories, extending its current winning streak to four and improving its record to 8-12.
The Rams got off to a hot start in the first game. In the bottom of the first inning, they quickly loaded the bases. Sophomore right fielder Mark Donadio got the first run on the board with an RBI single, scoring junior second baseman Joe Runco and keeping the bases full. After junior catcher Charlie Galiano failed to get on base, junior left fielder Ryan McNally hit a fly ball to center, resulting in the second out but allowing junior third baseman Ian Edmiston to tag up and score.
The next two innings were relatively uneventful, but in the fourth, sophomore starting pitcher Kirk Haynes gave up a pair of sacrifice flies to NYIT players Anthony Martelli and Matt DiBiase, allowing the Bears to tie the game. Haynes, with two earned runs to his name, exited the game after the fifth inning and got the no-decision. In the bottom of the sixth, Fordham got the go-ahead run when junior shortstop Joseph Devito slapped a single to left field, scoring junior pinch runner Tim O’Connor. NYIT was unable to retaliate. Fordham reliever Jimmy Murphy pitched two perfect frames to pick up the win in the seven inning game, and the Rams were victorious by a score of 3-2.
Just a few hours later, the two teams squared off again. This time around, the first run of the game came in the third inning, when Runco scored from third on a passed ball. In the top of the fifth, junior starter Brett Kennedy surrendered a pair of runs to NYIT, putting Fordham at a one-run disadvantage. The Rams wasted no time on getting back in front. They put forward a team effort and wound up rallying for four runs in the bottom of the inning. Edmiston and sophomore left fielder Ryan Mahoney knocked in runs, while Runco, Donadio and sophomore center fielder Jason Lundy crossed the plate. Galiano accomplished both feats.
The Rams kept it going in the sixth with Lundy, Runco and Donadio each connecting for an RBI single. Eventually, Donadio advanced to third and scored on a wild pitch, putting Fordham at a seven-run advantage. NYIT attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the eighth, scoring three runs, but was quieted by sophomore reliever Shane McDonald, who secured the last four outs and earned the save. The Rams piled on two more runs with sophomore pinch hitter Pat Gardner’s single, and the final score stood at 11-5. Murphy, who handled the fourth and fifth innings for Fordham, picked up the win, his second of the week.
Although the Rams struggled to a 1-9 start to the season, their record is now a respectable 8-12. Head coach Kevin Leighton believes that the string of home games has had a positive effect on his squad’s performance.
“We are lucky. We play at a beautiful home park with turf and lights, which allows our guys to spend more time on it,” said Leighton. “I think the home games have helped us to win some of the close games, and winning really helps our morale.”
This week, the team will square off against Iona on Wednesday before heading down to Virginia for a three-game series against Richmond. The Spiders will be Fordham’s first A-10 opponent of the season, but more are on the way. After traveling upstate for next Tuesday’s game against Albany, the Rams will host George Mason and Davidson in a pair of conference series.
“The A-10 is tough, but when we play the way we are capable, I feel we can beat anyone,” said Leighton. “Right now I think our guys believe they can win, even if we are down early, and that is something that you can’t really coach.”
