The Fordham baseball team struggled over the weekend against the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen, then lost to Columbia University (CU) on April 12. 

The four consecutive losses dropped the Rams’ overall record to 6-23, and through six conference games, they have won only once. Fordham pitchers allowed 23 runs to UMass hitters over the course of the series and allowed 16 runs to Columbia, continuing a trend of shaky performances on the mound.

Cameron Knox, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’24, started the opening game against UMass on April 8. 

Knox entered the appearance coming off one of his best outings of the season, allowing just two runs over five innings of relief in a loss against Saint Louis. He accumulated three strikeouts in the first three innings and did not allow a run. As he took the field for the bottom of the fourth, the game was knotted at 0-0.

In the seventh, a couple of singles followed by a balk gave the Rams runners on second and third with one out.

In the fourth, things fell apart for Knox. After a walk, designated hitter Mike Gervasi, UMass ’23, hit a home run to get the Minutemen on the board. Then a walk and a single set the table for a double by Jacob Sloss, UMass ’24, that drove in two more runs.

Another single moved Sloss over to third before a bunt single brought him home. Another double and single drove in the final three runs of the inning. By the time the dust had settled, UMass had scored eight runs off of seven hits, and Fordham trailed 8-0. 

Meanwhile, Minuteman starter Kevin Dow, UMass ’22, cruised through the game. He allowed five hits and no runs through six innings. In the seventh, a couple of singles followed by a balk gave the Rams runners on second and third with one out. A groundout by Jason Coules, FCRH ’22, drove in a run to break Dow’s shutout, but he limited the damage and escaped without allowing another run.

The teams entered the ninth with Fordham trailing 8-1 and Dow remaining in the game in pursuit of a complete game. A slew of singles and walks tainted Dow’s outing, as he allowed four runs before being relieved after recording two outs. The Rams could not overcome the deficit, however, and the final out was made to hand Fordham an 8-5 loss.

The second game of the series was moved from Saturday due to rain; instead, the two teams played a doubleheader on Sunday. 

In the first game of the day, the Minutemen wasted no time and effectively handled the pitching of a struggling Brooks Ey, FCRH ’24. UMass tied several hits together, including a double by Gervasi, and jumped ahead, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. The Rams responded with a run in the top of the second due to a single by Coules but continued to trail 4-1. 

Heading into the final game of the series, Fordham aimed to avoid a sweep.

Fordham scored another run in the fourth on a wild pitch, but UMass immediately regained its comfortable four-run lead. A two-run blast by Drew DeMartino, UMass Isenberg School of Management ’23, brought the score to 6-2. 

The struggles for Ey did not end there. After Fordham tacked on two runs in the sixth, with one of them being driven in by a sacrifice fly by Coules, he allowed another run in the bottom of the sixth. Ey exited the game after six innings and was credited with seven earned runs. 

The Rams scored a final run in the eighth inning, but they could not complete the comeback effort and fell to the Minutemen 7-5. Heading into the final game of the series, Fordham aimed to avoid a sweep.

During the second game of the day, the Minutemen came out swinging and scored six out of their eight runs of the game in the bottom of the first. With a slow start for the Rams, their first run did not come until the top of the third, when C.J. Vazquez, Gabelli Graduate School of Business ’22, advanced to second base, and Will Findlay, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’23, scored, with Vazquez scoring right after. 

The Rams are quickly falling behind their A10 rivals and could potentially miss the A10 championship that they are hosting.

Nearing the end of the third, excitement roared when Sebastian Mexico, FCRH ’25, homered, driving in three runs. 

Hopes for a win arose when the Rams took the lead in the top of the fifth. Vazquez and Zach Selinger, FCRH ’23, brought in their second runs for the night, leading the Rams over the Minutemen 7-6. 

However, the Minutemen stole the show when they scored their seventh and eighth runs of the night while the Rams stayed stagnant. The Minutemen walked away from the series 3-0 after defeating the Rams one last time 8-7. 

Following the Atlantic 10 (A10) matchup, Fordham faced Columbia in an intercity showdown. The Rams were completely overwhelmed against Columbia. The Lions scored four runs in the opening inning and went on to win 16-3 behind a strong start by pitcher Phil Healy, CU ’23. 

Fordham’s team ERA has now ballooned to an appalling 8.06 for the season. The Rams are quickly falling behind their A10 rivals and could potentially miss the A10 championship that they are hosting if they do not swiftly turn the tides. 

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