Fourth Estate Sports Reporter Ian Criman
Senior Jared Gaynor pitched a 6 hit complete game shutout, and the Patriots mashed 13 hits en route to a 6-0 victory over the Fordham Rams on Saturday. The offense has performed well to start Atlantic 10 conference play, as they scored 6 runs on Friday.
Gaynor was masterful today. After a difficult 1st inning in which a runner for Fairfield got to 3rd, Gaynor managed to get a strikeout and groundout to end the threat. After that, Gaynor cruised through the next 7 innings, scattering 5 hits and not letting the Rams offense get any sort of momentum. In the top of the 9th, the Rams were able to get runners on 2nd and 3rd, but Brown kept in Gaynor and Gaynor rewarded that decision with a complete game shutout.
Dh Anthony Montefusco started off the 2nd inning with a leadoff single. Leemhuis singled to right field, advancing Montefusco to 3rd. With 0 outs, Tobin grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that was just enough to score Montefusco. The Patriots never looked back from there.
The Patriots managed an even bigger 3rd inning. For the 2nd straight inning, the Patriots managed to get their leadoff man on base. After a Chris Cook stolen base, Gum hit a sharp grounder to the Fordham 2nd baseman. The throw to 1st went way over the 1st baseman’s head, allowing Gum to go to 2nd and Cook to score. The error proved costly, as Fernandez doubled to right center to increase the Patriot lead to 3.
The Patriots offense broke the game open with a big 5th. Gum got the inning going with a bloop single. Fernandez hit a double to deep left, scoring Gum. After a flyout, Leemhuis doubled to right center plating Fernandez. Tobin followed with an RBI single.
In the top of the 6th, Swatek hit a deep fly ball to center field. Willis was able to track the ball and made a terrific play despite crashing into the wall.
With the win, the Patriots advanced to 13-7 (2-0) on the season. The Rams dropped to 7-11 (0-2).
