University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Fordham
Fordham Out-Duels Baseball, 2-1
March 28, 2009 | Baseball
March 28, 2009
BRONX, N.Y. - UMass starter Mitchell Clegg held Fordham hitless through six innings, but the Rams managed a pair of late runs to out-duel the Minutemen, 2-1, in Atlantic 10 baseball action at Houlihan Park on Saturday afternoon. With the setback, UMass falls to 6-11 on the season, 1-4 in conference play, while Fordham moves to 8-13, 4-1 in the A-10.
The Minutemen took a 1-0 lead early in the contest. In the top of the second, junior Mike Donato led off with a double to right center and senior Jim Macdonald followed up with a double to left to drive him in.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Rams managed to tie the score without registering a hit. Danny Leach began the frame with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice by Mike Mobbs, stole third and came home on an RBI groundout by Ryan David.
The following inning, Shane Fox broke up the no-hitter with an infield single, chasing Clegg from the game. He advanced to second on a single by Ryan Maghini and went to third on a sacrifice bunt. Alex Kenny followed up by plating Fox with a sacrifice fly for the winning run. Fordham would manage just three hits in the contest, the only other coming in the bottom of the eighth, a two-out single to third by Ryan McCrann.
Sophomore Peter Copa opened UMass' half of the ninth with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice by freshman Tom Conley. However, Jordan Grangard successfully retired all three batters he faced in the inning to log the save (2).
Clegg took the loss for the Minutemen (1-1), despite the solid outing. He worked six innings, surrendering two runs on only one hit with five walks and three strikeouts. Jake Rabinowitz recorded the victory (1-0) for the Rams, pitching eight innings and allowing one run on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Donato was the lone player from either team to post multiple hits in the contest. He finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
The teams will close out the series this afternoon with the second game of the doubleheader slated for 4 p.m. The contest was moved up from Sunday due to rain in the forecast for tomorrow.
