Fordham Holds On To Hand Virginia Its First Home Loss, 3-2
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Feb. 27, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team had its six-game winning streak come to an end as the Fordham Rams dealt the Cavaliers their first home loss of the season after posting a 3-2 victory at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Fordham managed just four hits and committed four errors in the contest, but used a pivotal first inning to its advantage to win the last contest of a three-game series with Virginia. Despite the loss, the Cavaliers won the weekend series two games to one after claiming a pair of victories (5-0 and 13-3) in a doubleheader against the Rams on Saturday.
In the top of the first inning, Fordham took its first lead of the series and scored three runs in the side to take a 3-0 lead. The Rams’ three runs in the first inning equaled the total number of runs they scored in the first two games combined in the series. Fordham’s trio of Kevin Brush (single), Tim Short (walk) and Jeremy Bourgeois (hit by a pitch) each reached base and eventually scored a run in the inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Rams’ Brian Kenney connected on a RBI-single to center field to drive in Brush to make it 1-0. In Fordham’s next at-bat, Eric Reese’s RBI on a fielder’s choice plated Short to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. On batter later, the Fordham’s John Mollicone drove in Bourgeois with a RBI-single through the left side to make the score 3-0.
Fordham managed just one hit the rest of the game (a single by Bourgeois in the eighth inning) and turned to its two freshman pitchers to hold off the Virginia rally. Despite several errors that could have proved costly, the Rams overcame their mistakes and held onto the three-run lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Cavaliers made it a 3-1 contest. UVa’s Ryan Zimmerman led off the side with a double down the left field line and scored three batters later on Brandon Guyer’s RBI-single to pull Virginia to within two runs.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Cavaliers made a late charge and loaded the bases with one out after Scott Headd reached base on an error and Mike Campagna and Kyle Werman connected on back-to-back infield singles. In UVa’s next at-bat, Matt Street drove in Headd from third base with a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 3-2 with two outs and runners on first and second. But the Rams forced the Cavaliers to ground out to end the game and held on for the 3-2 victory.
“Jeff Kamrath pitched a very strong game and we played another errorless ballgame, but we have to do a better job in our offensive execution and base running,” said UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “Today, we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities when we had them. We couldn’t get a two-out hit and those are what win ballgames. We just couldn’t come out and get the two-out clutch hits today.”
UVa starting pitcher Jeff Kamrath (2-1) was dealt his first loss of the season after going 7.0 innings. He allowed three runs on just three hits and struck out a game-high six batters. Fordham’s starting pitcher Cory Riordan (1-0) posted his first collegiate win after going 6.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits and struck out two batters. The Rams’ Thomas Davis posted his second save of the season after tossing 3.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on four hits and struck out one batters.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 8-3 overall. The win improves Fordham’s record to 4-2 on the season.
UVa has won all three of the three-game series its has played this season after beating UNC Wilmington two games to one, sweeping Bucknell three games to none and taking two of three games against Fordham. The Cavaliers now stand 7-2 in three-game series contests.
The Cavaliers will return to action on Tuesday, March 1st when Virginia travels to Richmond, Va. to face the Richmond Spiders in a non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 PM.
— UVa —