By MAX PRINZ

Sophomore catcher Charles Galiano hit a two-run homer in the Rams’ 8-3 win over Albany on Tuesday. (JOSHUA KIM/THE RAM)

The Fordham baseball team picked up its first conference series win in dramatic fashion this weekend. The Rams used a two-run double by sophomore catcher Charles Galiano in the bottom of the eighth inning to take Sunday’s rubber game and the series from the Dayton Flyers.

After dropping the opening game of the series 6-3, the Rams showed resilience and fought through poor weather, winning two straight games to take the series.

The loss in that first game was a tough one to swallow. The Flyers’ offense was hot, scoring a run in each of the first four innings. On top of that, the Dayton starter, Noah Buettgan, was brilliant. Buettgan pitched a complete game, and his only blemish was a three-run seventh inning.

Saturday’s game was moved up due to rainy weather, but it did not stop the Rams. This time, it was the Rams’ offense that started hot, scoring three runs in the first inning. Sophomore Brett Kennedy made his best start of the year, throwing seven innings without an earned run to pick up his first win of the season. Senior Tim Swatek continued his hot streak by picking up a pair of RBIs and the Rams evened the series, winning 6-3.

The two teams attempted to play the third and final game of the series immediately following the second game on Saturday, but rain suspended the game in the seventh inning. Swatek got the start for Fordham and got into trouble early, giving up a three-run double in the first.

The Rams climbed back into the game by taking advantage of three Dayton errors that made the score 3-2.  Swatek fed off the momentum, striking out eight batters through the first four innings and finished with a 10-strikeout day.

Play resumed on Sunday in the top of the seventh inning with the score tied 3-3. Dayton again got things going early, scoring a run and taking a 4-3 lead. However, the resilient Rams responded in the bottom of the eighth.

Sophomore Joseph Runco singled and the fifth Dayton error of the game allowed senior Rob McCunney to reach first. Galiano then lined a 2-0 pitch to right center, scoring two runs and giving the Rams the lead.

Galiano’s clutch double would be the difference. Senior J.C. Porter was given the ball in the ninth in a tough situation with runners on first and second. He threw 11 pitches, struck out the first batter and forced two flyouts to earn the save.

“I opened the year as a closer,” Porter said. “But I’m kind of like the pitcher on the team who can do whatever. As long as I’m pitching, I’m happy.”

The Rams extended their winning streak to three games by defeating Albany on Tuesday. For once, the Rams got to play in prime baseball weather, and it looked like it made a difference.

The offense got started early, jumping out to a 3-1 lead after two innings. Runco drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the first and RBIs from freshmen Mark Donadio and Jason Lundy kept the scoring going.

The early offense was supported by freshman Kirk Haynes’ best start of the season. Haynes went seven innings, his longest start of the year, and surrendered just three hits. He did not allow an earned run in effort that gave him a well-deserved win.

The Rams would beat up on the Albany bullpen for five more runs, two of which came via the long ball in the eighth inning. Donadio hit a 3-2 to left for his first career home run. Two batters later, Galiano hit a two-run homer to left, to put the game beyond any doubt.

The Rams begin a lengthy road trip this weekend, traveling to Rhode Island for a three-game series. Fordham also faces cross-town rival Manhattan on Wednesday.

Max Prinz is Sports Editor at The Fordham Ram.