Bronx, N.Y. – (March 27, 2025) – The Fordham baseball team is gearing up for a pivotal three-game series against the Richmond Spiders this weekend at Pitt Field as part of Atlantic 10 conference play. Both teams enter the series with identical records of 4-2 in league action, setting the stage for a competitive matchup.
Fordham has been on a roll, winning its first two series against George Washington and Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Richmond is also riding high after sweeping St. Bonaventure and splitting a series against Saint Joseph's. The Spiders boast an impressive overall record of 21-4, leading the nation with a .342 team batting average and ranking first in the Atlantic 10 with a 4.24 team ERA.
Richmond’s offensive lineup features several standout performers. Jack Arcamone leads the charge with a remarkable .430 batting average, having scored 33 runs, hit 13 doubles, seven home runs, and driven in 35 runs. Right behind him is Jordan Jaffe, batting .404 with 34 runs, six home runs, and 34 RBI, while Brady O'Brien rounds out the trio with a .400 average.
On the pitching front, Richmond’s Esteban Rodriguez has been a dominant force, showcasing a 2.21 ERA and recording 20 strikeouts over six starts. Additionally, Ryan Bilka has been a reliable reliever, boasting a 0.94 ERA and four wins in eight appearances.
The series will kick off on Friday, March 28, with Fordham's Aidan Dowd (2-2, 4.45 ERA) taking the mound against Rodriguez. Saturday’s matchup will feature Fordham’s Mike Rabayda (1-3, 5.27 ERA) opposing Richmond’s Chase Topolski (2-2, 4.78 ERA). The series finale on Sunday will see Fordham's Aric Berg (0-0, 1.59 ERA) face Richmond’s Jackson Hinchliffe (0-0, 4.50 ERA).
Historically, the Rams and Spiders have met 44 times since their first encounter in 1923, with Richmond holding a slight edge at 24-20. Last season, Fordham claimed victory in the series at Houlihan Park, winning the first two games by scores of 5-2 and 12-2, while Richmond took the last game 6-2. During that series, Fordham's Cian Sahler hit an impressive .455 (5-11) with four RBI, and Daniel Bucciero contributed with a .417 average (5-12), scoring four runs and driving in four.
In recent news, Aidan Dowd was honored as the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week on March 24 after delivering a stellar performance against Massachusetts on March 21, where he pitched six shutout innings, striking out a career-high eight batters. This marked the first shutout for Fordham since April 8, 2023. Dowd’s current season stats reflect a 2-2 record, a 4.45 ERA, and 25 strikeouts over 28.1 innings.
Fordham's last outing was a nail-biter against Wagner on March 26, where they triumphed 6-4 in 11 innings. The Rams took an early lead, with Tommy Markey scoring in the third inning and Daniel Bucciero adding another run in the fourth. However, Wagner fought back, taking a 4-3 lead in the seventh before Fordham equalized and eventually secured the win with bases-loaded walks from Taylor Kirk and Andrew Kanellis in the 11th inning. Koen Smith earned the victory, pitching three scoreless innings of relief.
Fordham has been on a hot streak, going 9-4 in their last 13 games, with their pitching staff posting a solid 3.45 team ERA and limiting opponents to a .233 batting average. Dowd has been particularly effective, with a 0.53 ERA and 17 strikeouts in his last three starts. Meanwhile, Koen Smith has also been impressive, with a 2.45 ERA in his last six appearances.
Offensively, Andrew Kanellis has been a standout, hitting .412 (21-51) over his last 13 games, while Taylor Kirk has contributed with a .360 average during the same stretch. The Rams have been aggressive on the base paths, racking up 59 stolen bases this season, which ranks them 20th in the NCAA. Both Kirk and Bucciero lead the team with 14 stolen bases each.
Looking ahead, after the series against Richmond, Fordham will return home to Houlihan Park for a five-game homestand, beginning on April 1 against Monmouth at 3:00 PM. This series against Richmond will be crucial as the Rams look to solidify their standing in the Atlantic 10 and continue their momentum into the heart of the season.
