Fordham University swept a doubleheader against the George Mason Patriots on April 26 at Houlihan Park in Bronx, New York. The Rams won the first game 2-1 in seven innings and took the second game 5-4 after twelve innings.
The outcome affects both teams’ records as they compete within their conference. Fordham improved to a record of 22-23 overall and 12-9 in Atlantic 10 play, while George Mason dropped to 19-22 overall and 10-11 in conference games.
In the opening game, pitchers Jake Drumm for George Mason and Chase Hanawalt for Fordham kept things scoreless through four innings. The Patriots took a brief lead in the fifth inning when Julius Bagnerise singled home Logan Vaughan. However, Joey Donnelly tied it up with a solo home run for Fordham in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh, Tommy Markey hit a walk-off single after bases were loaded, securing Fordham’s win.
The second game saw George Mason take an early four-run lead in the second inning with contributions from Luciano Terilli, Jake Butler, Matthew Westley, Jackson Morse, Vincent Cowdrey, Drew Canody and Bagnerise. Fordham chipped away at that lead throughout regulation before tying it up with two outs in the ninth on Taylor Kirk’s double. Madden Ocko drove home Anthony Grabau for the winning run in extra innings.
Pitching was crucial throughout both games. For George Mason, Drumm allowed two runs over six innings but took the loss in game one; Aiden Parker started game two allowing just one run over four frames before relievers Diego Cardenas and Owen Stewart finished out extra innings work. For Fordham, Hanawalt pitched all seven innings of game one for his third win of the season while three relievers combined for more than eight hitless frames behind starter Aidan Dowd during game two.
Looking ahead, George Mason will travel to face No. 10 Virginia on Tuesday evening at Disharoon Park.
