BRONX, N.Y. - Despite a late rally in the top of the seventh inning, Saint Louis University baseball dropped its Saturday contest with Fordham, falling 8-4 to the Rams at Houlihan Park. 

The loss, which was the Billikens first in their last five games, moves the team to 26-9 on the year and to 8-3 in Atlantic 10 Conference play.

Patrick Clohisy got things going early in the Billikens second of three games against Fordham, driving Easton Richter home to give them the early 1-0 lead. Ethan Sitzman increased SLU's advantage to 2-0 in the ensuing inning, sending Ben Gallaher across home plate in the top of the second. 

From there, led by Andrew Kanellis and Daniel Bucciero's three-run third and sixth innings, the home team put up seven unanswered runs to take the 7-2 lead.

Trailing 7-2 at the end of the sixth inning, Drew Winters got on base and in scoring position with no outs before Gallaher drove him in to bring the Billikens within four. Easton Richter further decreased the visiting team's deficit with an RBI single through the right side, but Brenden Stressler's run was the Billikens final of the day. 

Fordham tacked on a final score in the next half inning to push the game out of reach and solidify its 8-4 win.

The Billikens left nine on base in the loss while the Rams failed to plate nine runs.

SLU and Fordham will play a rubber match tomorrow to decide the series winner. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (CST).