On Friday, Fordham Baseball rolled into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a three-game set against La Salle University. After taking two closely contested games, the Rams blew out the Explorers to seal a series sweep.

In game one, sophomore shortstop Anthony Grabau launched a solo home run in the first inning. The Rams offense stayed hot, scoring in the second, third and fourth innings, including Grabau’s second home run and a solo shot from senior Tommy McAndrews, bringing the Rams to a 7-0 lead.

On the mound, Rams starter, sophomore Beau Elson, pitched three shutout frames to begin the game. Explorers senior first baseman Alec Welshans launched home runs off Elson in the fourth and sixth, cutting the Rams’ lead to 7-4. Elson’s final line was six innings, four earned and five strikeouts. 

Despite Welshan’s third home run coming in the eighth, the Rams added two more insurance runs to secure a 9-7 victory.

Game two was lower scoring, but just as competitive. Once again, the Rams grabbed the lead and La Salle began to crawl back. A two RBI single from Grabau in the fifth brought the Rams’ lead to 4-0. 

Sophomore Chase Hanawalt had a dominant start for the Rams, going seven innings, allowing one earned run and punching out eight. The Rams entered the eighth leading 5-1. An RBI single, a fielder’s choice and a throwing error allowed the Explorers to bring the game within one run. In the ninth, the Rams turned to senior Aric Berg to record the final out. Berg walked one batter before getting a popout, closing out the Rams’ second win of the weekend.

Game three was not as stressful for the Rams. While La Salle put up individual runs in the first, second and seventh, that was all they could muster. In the third, McAndrews and Grabau stayed hot, each driving in runs with singles. Then junior Madden Ocko roped a double, driving in two. Two more runs came across via an RBI groundout and a wild pitch, bringing the Rams’ lead to 7-2. When it was all said and done, the Rams notched 10 runs in the concluding game of the series.

Pitchers junior Aidan Dowd and freshman Andrew Kapica put together stellar outings to hold La Salle’s offense at bay. Dowd allowed just one earned run through six innings, totaling 101 pitches and forcing eight groundouts. Out of relief, Kapica closed out the final three innings, also only allowing one earned run.

The sweep moves La Salle’s record to 4-14, further locking them into last place in the Atlantic 10 standings. Fordham moves to 9-9 on the year, sitting in sixth place; the Rams will face off against fifth-place George Mason University for a three-game set in the Bronx this week.