The GW baseball team swept Fordham in a three-game series last weekend with a 4-3 win in a back-and-forth finale Sunday at Barcroft Park. The Colonials also won both games of a doubleheader Saturday. Senior Mike Bassett is poised to break GW’s all-time career homerun record, having tied it with his 49th and 50th homeruns Saturday.
In his first at bat in game two of the doubleheader, Bassett knocked in number 50, his seventh homerun of the season, tying him with 1999 graduate Joe Beichert. Bassett also surpassed Dan Rouhier for the all-time RBI title Sunday.
“He had a great day Saturday and had the game-winning RBI Sunday,” head coach Tom Walter said. “He has a nice natural power-hitter swing.”
Walter said the weekend sweep was a good confidence boost after a rough loss to St. Joe’s last week.
“Anytime you sweep a team, it boosts your confidence,” he said. “We needed this. I feel like we got it back this weekend.”
GW struck first in Sunday’s win with a Bassett RBI single to right that scored lead-off man Travis Crowder. But the Rams scored two in the top of the third, and the score stood at 2-1 until GW manufactured two runs in the bottom of the fifth that turned out to be enough for the win.
Chris Barry’s fifth-inning RBI single to center scored Tony Brown, and Jeff Fertitta’s sacrifice fly to center field scored Matt Krimmel. Fordham and GW each scored in the sixth, but the Rams could not erase their deficit.
GW’s Justin Orenduff (6-0) grabbed the win, fanning five in two innings of relief of Dennis Gramolini. Starter Dave Rodriguez lasted four innings, while Mike O’Connor earned the save.
“Our pitching was outstanding,” Walter said of his bullpen that allowed three hits and eight strikeouts in five inning. “Anytime you get that kind of performance from your relievers its good.”
The Colonials combined for 17 runs in Saturday’s doubleheader to take both games from the Rams. In the second game, a Bassett shot to left field scored Krimmel and put GW ahead 2-0 in the first inning. Fordham briefly took the lead in the second, but GW added two runs from Jake Wald’s second inning RBI single, and Barry’s third inning solo shot. The Colonials had a four run sixth inning to run ahead for the win.
Jason Baker (2-4) went the complete seven innings with four strikeouts for 9-3 win.
In the first game, GW took advantage of sloppy Fordham pitching to set the tone with a four-run first inning. Meanwhile, GW starter Greg Conden (6-2), pitched a complete game, fanning five while allowing three runs off five hits.
The Colonials travel to Delaware State Tuesday and return home to host Norfolk State on Wednesday.
