MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team fell to Fordham, 11-1, in the opening game of a weekend series between the two teams at Smithson Field on Friday afternoon.

Fordham (25-14-1 overall, 8-5 Atlantic 10) scored a pair of unearned runs in the first inning to go ahead as a Justin Bardwell double and a Brian Goulard single staked the Rams to a 2-0 lead.

The Rams doubled the advantage in the third on a solo home run by Matt Tarabek and a sacrifice fly by C.J. Vazquez.

Saint Joseph's (16-21 overall, 4-10 Atlantic 10) put runners on in each of the first five innings, including getting a runner to third in the first and fourth, but it was the fifth inning when the Hawks finally broke through.  Langston Livingston led off the frame with a double before moving to third on a bunt by Matt Maul.  Brendan Hueth followed with an RBI groundout to second to score Livingston and make it a 4-1 game.

The Rams responded immediately, however, as an RBI single by Jake Baker and a two-run home run by Billy Godrick extended the margin to 7-1 in the sixth.  Fordham added four more in the seventh on a Jake MacKenzie sacrifice fly and RBI singles by Tarabek, Bardwell, and Colton Snelling.

Reiss Knehr allowed a run on three hits in seven innings to earn the win for Fordham, improving to 4-2.  Matt Kennedy allowed five earned runs in six innings to take the loss, falling to 1-3.

The Hawks and Rams return to Smithson Field on Saturday afternoon.  First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.