May 19, 2006

Box Score

TEANECK, NJ - Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team lost two games to visiting Sacred Heart University at FDU Field on Friday, May 19. The Knights (10-42, 6-17 NEC) fell victim to a late rally in game one, losing 9-5, then lost 9-4 in the nightcap.

In the opener, the Pioneers (22-28, 13-9 NEC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a solo home run by designated hitter Pete Kandybowicz (Massapequa, NY). Fairleigh Dickinson evened the game in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by senior first baseman Ben Cass (Warwick, NY).

The Knights took their first lead of the game in the third - stringing together four hits, including two doubles - jumping ahead, 4-3, on the strength of three runs in the frame. Junior centerfielder Chris Grabowski (Brooklyn, NY) started things off with a base hit up the middle and scored on senior second baseman Matt Born (/)'s (Saskatoon, Canada) two-bagger to right-centerfield. Cass drove home Born, with a double off the right field fence, tallying his second RBI of the game. Freshman catcher Mark Morton (Coral Springs, FL) followed with a single through the right side to score Cass.

Junior right fielder Vincente Medina (North Bergen, NJ) led off the fourth hammering the first pitch over the left-centerfield fence for his first collegiate home run, pushing the Knights ahead, 5-3.

A six-run sixth inning by the Pioneers, fueled by a grand slam by catcher Josh Enos (Paulsboro, NJ), shifted Sacred Heart on top, 9-5.

Freshman starter John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ) took the loss, as the lefty tossed 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs.

In game two, Sacred Heart took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Knights made it a 2-1 contest in the third via a sacrifice fly to right off the bat off freshman left fielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY)

In the fourth, SHU left fielder David Kaloyanides (Blue Point, NY) hit a three-run homer to give the Pioneers a 5-1 advantage.

FDU cut the deficit to 6-4 in the fifth frame, with Grabowski plating run on a groundout, followed by a dinger to centerfield by Born.

Kandybowicz hit a two-run homer to push the Pioneers' lead to 8-4 in the sixth. SHU tacked on another run in the seventh on a solo shot to center by shortstop Rob Tencza (Meriden, CT).

Sophomore southpaw John O'Hara (Staten Island, NY) took the loss, surrendering five earned runs, while punching out seven. Senior right-hander Adam Vogel (Cleves, OH) threw three innings of relief.

Born and Cass both notched two hits.

The Knights host Sacred Heart at noon for their final game of 2006, Senior Day, on Saturday, May 20.