The Fordham baseball team swept the St. Bonaventure University (SBU) Bonnies in three games last weekend, snapping the Rams’ string of three straight series losses since April 22. The team improved to 9-12 in the Atlantic 10 (A10) standings with three conference games remaining in the regular season. 

With a 6-12 record going into the weekend and playoff hopes waning, Fordham did exactly what it needed to do in order to stay in the running for a spot in the A10 Championship. After sweeping the Bonnies, Fordham is now in a three-way tie with the University of Richmond and University of Dayton for the seventh, and final, spot in the tournament. Any defeat against St. Bonaventure, now 3-18 in the A10 and 5-35 overall, would have likely ended the Rams’ season.

Nearing the end of a senior campaign that can only be described as tumultuous, Fordham ace Gabe Karslo, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’22, came through for the team in the first game of the series on Friday, May 13. Though he allowed a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning against outfielder Garrett Boldt, SBU ’22, Karslo eventually settled down and easily handled the struggling Bonnies. In seven innings of work, the righthander allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

In his eight previous starts in 2022, Karslo only managed to finish the sixth inning on one occasion and had never come out for the seventh. After a number of poor performances and an injury in April, it was a much-needed turnaround for Karslo as he looks to find a groove late in the season.

The Rams began slowly at the plate in the first game, a persistent problem for a 2022 Fordham team that has been shut out 11 times in the first three innings in 21 conference games. But batters eventually broke through against the Bonnies’ pitching and scored runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings to take a decisive 7-2 lead. Fordham relief pitchers Trey Maeker, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’24, and Connor Haywood, FCRH ’25, came in for Karslo and threw scoreless frames to secure the opening victory.

Saturday’s Senior Day game escalated much quicker than the previous event on Friday, with Fordham earning its first three runs in the second inning. Andy Semo, GSBRH ’22, and Jack Harnisch, GSBRH ’22, both walked to begin a rally in the bottom of the second, and a hit by Richard Grund, GSBRH ’22, brought Semo home. Back-to-back doubles from T.J. Wachter, GSBRH ’25, and Jake Guercio, GSBRH ’22, rounded it out to bring Fordham to a 3-0 lead.

A two-run home run by Semo in the first inning gave the Rams a lead that they never relinquished.

In the top of third, the Rams lost the lead and then some, as starting pitcher Cian Sahler, FCRH ’25, gave up five runs, putting Fordham behind by two. But in the bottom of the inning, a two-run home run by Jason Coules, GSBRH ’22, put the team back in contention and tied the game at five.

St. Bonaventure scored two more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead, but Fordham rallied immediately in the bottom of the inning. With two men on, second baseman Harnisch doubled to tie it once more, and a single by Guercio later in the inning gave Fordham an 8-7 lead. The Rams scored three more runs in the final three innings to a comfortable 11-7 win. 

After two victories to begin the weekend, Fordham put everything together to secure a third victory on Sunday. A two-run home run by Semo in the first inning gave the Rams a lead that they never relinquished. The team remained productive at the plate throughout the contest, and a stellar start by starting pitcher Brooks Ey, FCRH ’24, kept St. Bonaventure in check. In eight innings, the Rams’ rising star threw eight innings, allowing two runs while striking out nine batters, tied for his career-high. Fordham went on to win 6-2.

On Tuesday, May 17, the Rams traveled to Villanova University and were shut out 8-0. But the nonconference defeat has no bearing on the team’s chances at a postseason, which are slim but nevertheless possible. In Fordham’s final series of the regular season, the team will play the 16-5 Virginia Commonwealth University Rams, currently second in the conference standings. The Rams from the Bronx will not be favored in the road matchup, but a good showing in the series may ultimately make the difference between a title shot and a ticket home.

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