The Fordham Rams dropped the third and final game of their Atlantic 10 (A10) home series against Davidson College (DC) on April 5, a 12-1 defeat in eight innings that sealed a series sweep at the hands of the Wildcats.
The Rams came into the series at the top of the Atlantic 10 league standings, boasting a 7-2 conference mark and a 15-14 record overall. Right behind them, the Davidson Wildcats entered the weekend in a three-way tie for second with Rhode Island and Saint Louis, sporting a 6-3 A10 record and an 11-16 mark overall.
The series began on the afternoon of April 4 with a doubleheader that set the tone for the weekend, as the Rams dropped both games to the Wildcats. Fordham fell 10-5 in the series opener before suffering a 17-6 defeat in Game 2.
In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Daniel Bucciero, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’26, put the Rams on the board early with a two-run homer to right in the first inning. The Rams held the lead until the fifth, where the Wildcats surged ahead, crowned by a three-run blast from Eli Putnam, DC ’26, in the ninth that sealed the Rams’ fate.
In Game 2, the Rams did not score until the sixth, already trailing by eight. A grand slam to center field from Jamie Daly, DC ’28, in the eighth extended Davidson’s lead, and Fordham managed just one more run off the bat of pinch-hitter Ryan Meyer, GSBRH ’25, before falling to the Wildcats once again.
On Saturday, amidst scattered showers and a chilly wind at Houlihan Park, the Rams quickly fell behind the Wildcats. Davidson struck first with four runs at the top of the second, sparked by a series of singles to left field. Daly nearly made it five for the Wildcats on a fly hit to center field by Cider Canon, DC ’27, but was tagged out at home by Rams catcher Tommy McAndrews, GSBRH ’26. The tag was extremely close, prompting a brief pause in play for video review before the out was confirmed. Fordham responded in the bottom of the second with a run from McAndrews off the bat of Taylor Kirk, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’28.
Following the loss, Fordham falls to 15-17 on the season and drops to fifth in the Atlantic 10 standings.
The Wildcats kept their offense rolling after the second inning, despite a pitching change by Fordham at the top of the third, swapping starter Chase Hanawalt, FCRH ’28, for lefty Beau Elson, FCRH ’28. The Rams ended the inning trailing 6-1, unable to answer back to the two runs tacked on by Davidson.
Both teams held each other scoreless in the fourth. Jack Brennan, Gabelli Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ’26, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded after Bucciero grounded out to shortstop.
Davidson’s starting pitcher, Isaac Fix, DC ’25, kept the Rams quiet until being relieved by Ed Hall, DC ’26, in the sixth. Hall allowed just one hit in the bottom of the sixth before shutting Fordham down for the rest of the game.
The Rams made yet another pitching change in the seventh, bringing in right-hander Koen Smith, GSBRH ’27 for Elson. After giving up a hit to Jack Cotrone, DC ’25, Smith struck out the next three batters, effectively keeping the Wildcats from scoring for the fourth consecutive inning. However, Fordham’s offense continued to struggle with a groundout to third and two swinging strikeouts against Hall.
Davidson broke through again in the eighth. Canon doubled to left field following two consecutive walks, allowing Daly to score. Michael O’Shaughnessy, DC ’26, and the Atlantic 10 Under Armour Baseball Player of the Week, then singled down the right field line to drive in two more runs. Fordham responded with its third and final pitching change, subbing in right-hander Connor Haywood, GSBRH ’25 for Smith. Haywood allowed another three runs, including the game’s first home run from Cotrone. The Wildcats closed out the top of the eighth with a commanding 12-1 lead.
The Rams were unable to rally in the bottom of the eighth, despite pinch-hit appearances from Tommy Markey, GSBRH ’28, and Anthony Grabau, GSBRH ’28. The game was called at the end of the eighth inning.
Following the loss, Fordham falls to 15-17 on the season and drops to fifth in the Atlantic 10 standings. Davidson improves to 14-16 as they take the top spot in the A10 league standings.
Up next, the Rams stayed at home to host the Columbia Lions on April 9, but fell short with a 7-3 loss, taking their fourth loss in a row. Fordham remains fifth in the A10 league standings, hoping to bounce back as they prepare to hit the road and take on the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks in Philadelphia.