OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Apr. 6, 2011) – Senior Jerry Smith (Nesconset, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI as NYIT baseball fell 12-7 to Fordham Wednesday afternoon. With the win the Rams swept the series and improved to 17-11 overall. NYIT bumps to 4-15 on the season as it heads into Great West Conference play this weekend.

 

Senior Effrey Valdez (Flushing, N.Y.) also scored twice, while sophomore Sebastian Grazziani (Whitestone, N.Y.) tallied two RBI as well. The Bears went through five pitching changes, but the loss went to freshman James Moussa (Averne, N.Y.), who gave up nine runs in the first inning.

 

The Rams had a huge first inning as they plated nine runs on seven hits. The kicker was a two-out grand slam to right field from Ryan David. Fortunately the Bears defense helped keep the Rams at bay for the next three innings as they attempted to mount a comeback.

 

NYIT’s bats then came alive in the bottom of the third and four runs were scored to make it a 9-4 game. With two outs already on the board, Valdez got on with a hit by pitch, followed by Dan Lackner (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and Dane Hardy (Willingboro, N.J.) who were each dealt a walk. With the bases loaded, Smith singled through the left side plate two runs. He then advanced to third on a Fordham error, which scored Hardy. The inning wasn’t quite over yet as Smith scored on a two-out single from Steve McNamara (Levittown, N.Y.).

 

The Bears continued to fight and, after the Rams put up one more run in the fifth, responded with two in the bottom side to make it a 10-6 game. Again with two-outs on the board, Smith singled to third base and then scored on a Grazziani double to left center. Smith and McNamara, who got on with a base hit, both scored on the extra base hit.

 

However, NYIT would score just one more run in the next four innings. Fordham tacked on its 11th and 12th runs in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively. Ryan Maghini homered to right field to lead off the seventh inning and David scored on a Bears error in the ninth.

 

NYIT’s final run came in the bottom of the ninth. Valdez broke free and homered to right field. It was his first of the season.

 

NYIT opens GWC play this weekend with a series against Northern Colorado. The Battle of the Bears begins with a single game on Friday, Apr. 8 at 3 p.m. Play continues with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at Noon and concludes with a single game on Sunday, Apr. 10 at 1 p.m.