April 20, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - TJ Chism singled home John Rickards with the game-winning run in the eighth and Kevin Fuqua threw his fourth complete game of the season as the La Salle University Baseball team won its first Atlantic 10 series of the year with a 3-2 victory over Fordham Sunday at Hank DeVincent Field.
Tied at two since the top of the sixth, Rickards hit a one-out double off the right-field fence and, on a no-ball, two-strike count to Chism, moved to third on a wild pitch.
Fordham would draw in its infield to try and prevent the go-ahead run to score, but Chism laced a single through the right side to plate Rickards.
In the ninth, Fuqua retired the side in order to register the complete game. The freshman is only the 14th La Salle pitcher to throw four complete games in a single season and the first since 2000.
He allowed just three hits in the game - the first a lead-off single in the third - and faced just 17 batters through the first five innings.
However, he ran into his only trouble of the afternoon in the sixth, after a lead-off single by Alex Kenny. He was called for a balk, moving Kenny to second, and then walked Rich Goulian on five pitches.
Danny Leach moved the pair over a base with a sacrifice bunt, and Eric Reese was intentionally walked to load the bases. Chris Kaible followed with a two-RBI single back through the middle to tie the game at 2-all, but Fuqua got out of the jam with a double-play grounder.
He finished the game with three perfect innings and improved his record to 4-6 for the season. He allowed two runs on three hits, struck out three and lowered his A-10 only ERA to 2.79.
La Salle (9-29, 4-11 A-10) put its first run on the board in the fourth, as Justin Handler scored on a wild pitch. He singled to lead off the frame, moved to second when Rickards drew a walk, and took third on Chism's sacrifice bunt.
Brian Meagher gave the Explorers a 2-0 lead with a solo home run over the left field fence in the fifth, just his second career round-tripper.
Fordham (20-18-1, 6-9 A-10) received a much-needed seven innings from its starter JP Mack. The junior started his first career game and was locked into a pitcher's duel with Fuqua. He allowed just two runs on three hits and struck out six.
However, he got a no-decision after leaving the tied game in the eighth as the Rams went to their pen. Greg Dimmling pitched just the one inning, allowed the go-ahead run and suffered his first loss of the year (0-1).
The Explorers win back-to-back A-10 games for the first time since the sweeping Temple in the final series of 2006. They did win three A-10 series last year, but those wins came on the bookends of the series.
La Salle returns to action Tuesday, when they travel to State College to take on Penn State, first pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM. They will then host Rhode Island this upcoming weekend in a three-game A-10 series starting Friday at 3 PM at Hank DeVincent Field.
