The Citadel Knocks Out Fordham

May 22, 1998

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Aaron Haigler’s run-scoring, two-out single through the right side of the infield Friday sparked an eighth-inning rally as The Citadel defeated Fordham 5-1 in the NCAA East Regional on Friday.

Haigler’s hit drove home Terrance Smalls and Kevin Durham’s three-run home run to left broke open the game to eliminate sixth-seeded Fordham (27-20).

Reliever Tom Martin (5-3) pitched three scoreless innings to earn the victory for the fifth-seeded Citadel (37-23). Fordham starter Gary Reznick (5-4) had limited the Bulldogs to one run until Smalls scored.

Citadel starter Brian Wiley struck out 10 in six innings to tie the school single-season record of 159. He led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (14.02) entering the tournament and has fanned 10 or more batters in five straight starts.

Designated hitter Adrian Muys went 3-for-3 at the plate for Fordham, including a one-out triple in the sixth, but then was stranded on base – one of 15 runners the Rams left aboard.

Fordham had bases loaded with one out in the seventh, but Martin struck out Bob Sprague and got Vince Lumia on a groundout.

Rodney Hancock doubled twice for the Bulldogs and scored first on Jay Morgan’s groundout in the second. Fordham’s run came on Mike D’Auria’s RBI single in the fourth.

The Citadel, which lost its first game in the double-elimination tournament Thursday to Clemson, will play at 3 p.m. Saturday against an opponent to be determined from later games Friday.