Big Inning Powers Baseball Past Fordham, 12-4
MERION STATION, Pa. – A seven-run seventh and seven strong innings from Frank Ciccone led the Saint Joseph's baseball team to a 12-4 win over Fordham on a cold Saturday afternoon at Smithson Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Fordham (15-19 overall, 7-6 Atlantic 10) got on the board in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Taylor Kirk, but the Hawks answered in the bottom of the inning as Joey Pagano had a bases-loaded line drive knocked down for a groundout that brought home Joey Gale. Owen Petrich then followed with a sacrifice fly to put SJU in front.
• Kirk hit a two-run single in the fifth to give the Rams the lead once again, but after Gale reached on an error to start the bottom of the frame, Alex Kelsey ripped a triple into the right field corner to tie the game. Carson Applegate hit the next pitch out to left for a two-run home run and a 5-3 lead.
• Saint Joseph's (14-17 overall, 8-5 Atlantic 10) blew things open in the seventh, sending 11 batters to the plate. Applegate was hit by a pitch before a walk to Pagano and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with nobody out for Petrich, who singled past the drawn-in infield to bring in two and double the advantage.
• Tim Dickinson and Aidan Duda drew walks to load the bases for Michael Pierson, who worked a free pass of his own to force in Petrich. After a pitching change, Gale singled home Dickinson before Kelsey cleared the bases with a three-run double to make it a 12-3 game.
• The Rams got one back on a single by Matt Dieguez in the eighth, but that would be it.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Ciccone allowed three runs on five hits while striking out eight in seven innings to notch his fourth win of the season. Aidan Dowd took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits and four walks in five innings.
• Kelsey was 3-for-5 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Gale scored three times, while Applegate crossed the plate twice and drove in a pair of his own. Petrich added three RBI as well.
• The Hawks drew 10 walks on the day as they once again had each batter in the lineup reach base for the third time in the last four games.
UP NEXT
The teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch in the opener is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
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