The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team fell in a doubleheader at Wagner in Staten Island, NY on Sunday, April 29, falling in the first game 12-5 and getting edged in the second, 8-5. The Knights fall to 8-31 overall with a 3-12 mark in Northeast Conference play.
The Seahawks jumped out to a 6-0 lead, picking up a pair in the bottom of the first and adding a four-run second inning.
The Knights responded in the fourth inning as Zach Sand singled through the right side to lead off the inning. Vincente-Alexander Medina (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) doubled down the left field line and John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) drove both runs in with a single to right field.
Matt Mastrianni reached on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning, pushing Joseph DiGeronimo across the plate to give Wagner a 7-2 lead entering the fifth.
Fairleigh Dickinson staged a comeback, putting three runs on the board in the seventh. Vincent Pennachio was hit by a pitch to start the rally and advanced to second on a throwing error. Jovan Santos (Woodhaven, NY/Archbishop Malloy) then singled to third to advance him and Luis Rosario (Bronx, NY/James Monroe) drew a walk. Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) singled to right lifled to score Pennacchio and Chris Grabowski (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) continued the momentum with a single to right field as Rosario and Santos scored.
With a slight 7-5 advantage, the Seahawks put up five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take control and make the final 12-5.
Grabowksi went 3-for-4, while Santos was 2-for-3 to lead the offense.
Wagner jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the second game of the day, picking up a run in the each of the first two innings.
The Knights were able to take the lead in the third inning, 3-2. Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) started things off with a two-out single up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Grabowksi singled through the left side to plate Vincent and advanced to second on the throw. Medina drew a walk and Grabowksi scored on a balk. Paganotti smacked an RBI single to center field to give FDU the advantage.
The Seahawks responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim a slight edge, 5-3, off two-run home run by Vin Avella and an RBI fielder's choice by Mastrianni. Wagner posted a three-run inning in the fourth for an 8-3 lead.
The Knights were able to record a run in the top of the fifth as Vincent homered to right center and tack on another in the sixth as Patrick Furey (Ponoma, NY/North Rockland) singled to second base to plate Santos, but it wasn't enough as the Seahawks took the 8-5 victory.
Fairleigh Dickinson is back in action at Rutgers on Wednesday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m.
