The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team fell to Monmouth University, 9-3, Friday, April 20, at FDU Field in Teaneck, NJ. A six-run rally by the Hawks in the eighth inning broke a 3-3 deadlock, as the Knights slipped to 7-25 overall and 2-6 in the Northeast Conference.
FDU grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third inning, capitalizing on a tandem of two-baggers. Sophomore designated hitter Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Belmar, PA/Franklin Regional) slipped a one-out double inside third base and down the line then scored on a base knock through the left side courtesy of senior first baseman Vincente-Alexander Medina (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic). Junior outfielder John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) (Staten Island, NY/Rockland CC/St. Joseph by the Sea) smoked a two-out double off the right field fence to plate Medina.
In the top of the fifth frame, MU (20-11-1, 5-3 NEC) tallied a trio of runs to jump ahead, 3-2, highlighted by a two-run single to right field by Andy Meyers (Stratford, NJ). The following inning, Knights senior outfielder Chris Grabowski (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) deposited a two-strike, two-out pitch into the left-centerfield gap to drive in the tying run.
Monmouth regained the lead, 4-3, in the eighth, on the strength of a solo shot to centerfield by Rick Niederhaus (Whitehouse Station, NJ). The Hawks ultimately tallied six runs in the frame, with Mike Casale (Toms River, NJ) and Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, NJ) adding a two-run homers.
Lefty John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) (Mount Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) allowed five hits through six innings ? including a pair of earned runs ? in a no decision. The sophomore struck out the side in the second, en route to collecting five K's. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Hennessy (Mahopac, NY/Trinity Pawling) (Mahopac, NY/Trinity Pawling) took the loss, tossing 1.2 innings of relief.
Vincent, Medina, Paganotti and sophomore catcher Vincent Pennacchio (Huntington Station, NY/Commack) (Huntington Station, NY/Commack) all notched multiple hits on the afternoon.
Fairleigh Dickinson hosts the Hawks for a doubleheader at noon, Saturday, April 21.
