Seton Hall
Recap: Late-Game Grand Slam Puts Rams Over Pirates, 9-3
Date: March 29, 2023By: Matthew Soetebeer
This article was originally written on March 24, 2023
Seton Hall Athletics
Pandemonium is the only way to accurately describe the second game of the double header between the Seton Hall Pirates and the Fordham Rams.
The first inning consisted of both sides getting quick outs to keep it short and sweet, and no runs were scored.
The Rams turned up the heat in the top of the second inning with an array of great hits. They got on the board after catcher Tommy McAndrews hit a double that sent a runner home.
An RBI single by shortstop Nico Boza and a two-run single from centerfielder Ryan Thesse gave the Rams a commanding 4-0 lead early in the contest.
The Pirates’ first run of the game came off an RBI single by catcher Jedier Hernandez that sent second baseman Zack Sylvester to home plate. The crowd roared as the Pirates started to chip away at the Rams’ lead.
Right back in it
— Seton Hall University Baseball (@SHUBaseball) March 24, 2023
Max gets us on the board with a two-run 2B#HALLin ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/FAW8CYWcWS
Momentum continued to swing in the Pirates’ favor as they prevented the Rams from getting any sort of further edge.
The top of the third inning was a quick one, and the bottom of that inning was just as beneficial for the Pirates. Shortstop Max Viera cracked the ball into the outfield for a double. An RBI single by third baseman Pat D’Amico would send Viera home, cutting the lead to just two runs.
Near disaster struck the Pirates in the fourth inning when the Rams had runners on first and third base, ready to feast. Second baseman Zach Selinger was the runner on third, and he jolted to home plate after a bunt. Despite a sliding attempt, he was tagged out by Hernandez.
Innings five and six were uneventful, besides a rare double-steal from the Pirates. They were not able to capitalize and remained trailing 4-2 heading into the seventh inning.
Pat D’Amico boomed a ball into center field and the crowd cheered as he sprinted from base-to-base, thinking it was a home run. The play would end up being a triple, but it was huge nonetheless. Zack Sylvester perfectly placed a ground ball between two infielders that sent D’Amico home shortly after.
Tommy McAndrews hit his second double of the day for the Rams, but the Rams still went scoreless during the top of the eighth inning. They had not scored since the second inning.
The bottom of the eighth inning was golden for the Pirates. They were able to score off two RBI singles and many of the Rams were visibly frustrated in the bullpen. The Pirates had willed their way into a lead and shut the Rams down up to this point.
WE. ARE. TIED.#HALLin ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/vwlu6MVRBQ
— Seton Hall University Baseball (@SHUBaseball) March 24, 2023
In the top of the ninth inning, Hernandez would make a poor throw that skipped by the first baseman. Nico Boza would dash home to cut the Pirates’ lead to 6-5.
Solid hits and an intentional walk loaded the bases for the Rams when Zach Selinger would do the unthinkable: a grand slam that allowed the Rams to retake the lead, now 9-6.
The bottom of the ninth inning was quiet for the Pirates, and the Rams had no trouble finishing them off. The Pirates worked tirelessly to comeback from the 4-0 deficit, all for Selinger to erase it in seconds.
They fought until the end and played with winning effort, but the five runs scored in the ninth inning were too much to overcome.
Matthew Soetebeer can be reached at matthew.soetebeer@student.shu.edu.
