The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team won 5-4 versus visiting Quinnipiac University, Thursday, April 5 at FDU Field in Teaneck, NJ. Junior outfielder John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea/Rockland CC) notched the game-winning single through the right side in the bottom of the ninth, as the Knights won their Northeast Conference debut ? and first home contest of 2007 ? improving to 6-16 overall.
FDU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first frame as sophomore infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (Sand Diego, CA/Mission Bay) deposited a 3-0 pitch into the right field corner for a two-bagger, driving in sophomore infielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Belmar, PA/Franklin Regional) who reached with a base knock.
Quinnipiac (6-7-1, 0-1 NEC) tied the game on the first pitch of the second inning with a solo shot to left-center field by infielder Jeff Mainetti (Guilford, CT).
In the top of the fifth, Mainetti went yard again ? a two-run shot ? amidst a three-run frame, as the Bobcats took a 4-1 advantage.
Fairleigh Dickinson cut the deficit to 4-2 when senior outfielder Vincente-Alexander Medina (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) roped an RBI double off the centerfield wall in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating Sand.
Sophomore pinch hitter Bryan Greer (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights) (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights) smashed a 400 foot-plus, one out dinger to left-center field in the seventh. Vincent continued the rally, lacing a double to right field to bring around senior outfielder Chris Grabowski (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) and tie the ball game, 4-4.
Sophomore southpaw John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) (Mount Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) tossed 6.2 innings, sitting down six in a no decision. Sophomore right-hander John Arciuolo (East Williston, NY/Wheatley) (East Williston, NY/Wheatley) picked up his first win of the year, allowing two hits in 2.1 innings of relief.
Sand and Vincent tallied multi-hit performances, while Grabowski scored a pair of runs.
The Knights host QU for doubleheader, Friday, April 6. First pitch is set for noon.
