Richard Gibson/Staff Writer
With FIU baseball having high hopes for the season, they knew the Fordham Rams would be no joke. Even before the game began, a 45-minute rain delay set both teams back. However, an offensive outburst by FIU would be too much for the Rams to handle, and FIU would win a dominant 20-7 game.
Once the game began, it was all business for pitcher Logan Allen, beginning with a 1-2-3 first inning. FIU’s first time at bat fared much better. Derek Cartaya hit a single, then Jose Garcia was hit by a pitch. Justin Farmer hit a triple that sent Cartaya and Garcia home, and FIU finished the first with a 2-0 lead.
Fordham began the second inning with a home run, but that was all that Allen would give up. For FIU, Luis Chavez began with a single, then Robert Sotolongo walked. Jarrett Ford hit a ball up the middle, and off an error by Fordham, Chavez was able to score, and the rout for FIU began.
Sotolongo found an opportunity and stole home plate. Alec Sanchez hit an RBI that sent Ford home. Next, Garcia hit a single that sent Cartaya home. Farmer hit a deep ball that was dropped by Fordham, which scored two runs. FIU finished the second inning with an 8-1 lead.
A quick 1-2-3 third inning for Allen brought FIU back to the plate, and Chavez began the third inning with a walk. Ford hit a double that sent Chavez home. Off a single by Sanchez, Ford scored. After three innings, FIU was now up 10-1.
Fordham would find some success in the fourth inning, getting the bases loaded. After two outs, a walk would bring one runner home. One run was all that Allen would give up, however, leaving three runners on base.
For FIU, Ben Rozenblum and Juan Teixeira were hit by pitches. Chaves walked, and FIU suddenly had loaded bases. Sotolongo hit a ball into left field, bringing in two runners. Ford would go on to bring Chavez home off a single. Cartaya hit an RBI double, bringing Sotolongo home. At the end of the 4th, FIU would have a 14-2 lead.
The fifth inning for Fordham saw them loading up the bases, but some clutch pitching by Allen left them all on base, earning them no runs. For FIU Rozenblum walked, then Teuxeira hit a deep ball sending Rozenblum home. After five, FIU grew their lead to 15-2.
Just like the second inning, Fordham began with a home run to begin the sixth, but that was it for their offense. Ford began the sixth with a single of his own, eventually stealing second and third. Garcia got a double that brought Ford in. Once more, FIU would increase their lead by a run, leading 16-2.
In the seventh inning Fordham brought in a run off a hit batter, and another off a hit to center field. A third one came off a sacrifice fly ball. For FIU, Rozenblum walked, then Alejandro Torres nailed a double. During Ford’s at bat, a wild pitch brought in Rozenblum. Ford then singled, bringing Torres in, and FIU’s lead was now 18-6.
Fordham would get a run in the eighth inning off of an error, but a double play would ensure that was it. For FIU Sanchez and Garcia both scored singles. Nathan Housen walked, and two RBIs by Rozenblum and Seth Cannady would score two runs. The Rams scored no runs in the top of the ninth, and FIU would win in a dominant 20-7 rout.
Allen picked up the win, pitching through five innings. The offense managed to score at least one run in every inning. Fordham had opportunities to put up more runs than they did, but FIU’s bullpen clutched it out, limiting them to the occasional single run.
When asked about the bullpen’s performance, head coach Mervyl Melendez said “You don’t ever want the pitchers to pitch with the bases loaded, but I was happy that we were able to control most of the innings and minimize the damage, and that’s what a good pitching staff does.”
FIU achieved 38 at bats, 16 hits, and 9 walks. Ford led the hit category with four total. Four different players achieved three earned runs: Ford, Garcia, Rozenblum, and Chavez. Allen recorded 11 strikeouts in 21 at bats.
According to Garcia, the desire for an impressive outing started before the game began. “We had a few meetings with the players, and we hugged each other. We let the seniors know that this season was their last ride, and we all made a pact that we were going to be all in, all year. It doesn’t matter what.”
FIU will continue the series against Fordham on Saturday, February 15th at 6pm, and Sunday, February 16th at noon. They’ll then travel to Bethune-Cookman for a single game on February 18th.
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