April 29, 2006

Box Score

TEANECK, NJ - The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball game dropped both games of a Northeast Conference doubleheader versus Central Connecticut State University on Saturday, April 29. The Knights (8-30, 5-12 NEC) plated runs in three-straight innings in Game One's 8-3 loss, then witnessed a scoreless Game Two broken up in the fifth inning, as CCSU scored 10 runs in the final three frames en route to a 10-0 victory.

In Game One, the Knights fell behind by five runs in the first two innings. Senior right-hander Rick Franceschi fanned five, but was touched up for six earned runs through 6.1 innings and took the loss.

Junior centerfielder Chris Grabowski drove in freshman second baseman Jeff Vincent with a double in the bottom of the third. Senior first baseman Ben Cass - who collected two hits - scored in the fourth inning following a double down the left field line by junior right fielder Vincente Medina.

FDU cut the Blue Devils' lead to 5-3 when freshman left fielder Matt Maher led off the fifth with a single, then swiped second base. Three batters later, Maher scored on an RBI groundout by sophomore designated hitter Carmine Vetrano. However, CCSU put the game away with three runs in the top of the seventh inning.

In the nightcap, sophomore lefty John O'Hara took a shutout into the fifth inning when the Blue Devils put together a seven-run outburst. O'Hara left the game with the bases juiced, trailing 3-0, and was relieved by freshman right-hander Ryan Hennessy. Three pitches later, CCSU's designated hitter John Romano cleared the bases with one swing and the Knights fell behind, 7-0.

Central Connecticut left-hander Matt Gianini went the distance, allowing two hits. The freshman tandem of Maher and catcher Mark Morton registered FDU's base knocks.

The Knights host CCSU on Sunday, April 30 for the third and final game of the series at noon.