The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team lost both games of twin bill against Long Island University, Saturday, May 12 at FDU Field in Teaneck, NJ, dropping game one, 9-5, and the nightcap, 6-4. Senior outfielder Chris Grabowski (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) punctuated Senior Day with a career-best 4-for-4 showing in the second contest, as the Knights moved to 8-39 overall and 3-19 in the Northeast Conference.
In the opener, the Blackbirds (12-33, 6-16 NEC) struck for an early run in their first at-bat, as outfielder Frank DiMasi (Staten Island, NY) chopped a pitch through the left side for an RBI. In the following frame, outfielder Johnnie Neckar (Fort Myers, FL) roped an RBI double inside the left field line, as LIU ultimately grabbed a 3-0 advantage.
In the bottom half of the third, FDU collected three-consecutive one-out singles before sophomore infielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) was plunked with the bases juiced. Senior outfielder Vincente-Alexander Medina (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) smacked a single through the left side, plating a pair of runs. Sophomore infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) and junior outfielder John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea/Rockland CC) added RBI base knocks, as the Knights jumped ahead, 5-3.
In a no decision, sophomore right-hander Ben Green (Plainview, NY/JFK Plainview) (Plainview, NY/JFK Plainview) allowed two earned runs and sat down five. He hurled five innings in his first start of the season ? and second of his career. Freshman righty Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) took the loss, allowing a trio of earned runs in relief.
Blackbirds' infielder Trey Bell (Georgetown, DE) notched an RBI base hit up the middle in the sixth inning. Infielder Dan Pirillo (Marlboro, NY) laced a double to right-centerfield, scoring Bell, and knotting the contest, 5-5. DiMasi brought home a pair of runs with a two-bagger to right-centerfield, followed by an RBI double to the identical location courtesy of James Jones (Brooklyn, NY), as LIU went ahead, 8-5, with a five-run frame.
Jones tossed five innings on the hill, fanning five, en route to notching the win.
Sand and Paganotti registered multi-hit efforts.
In game two, Grabowski lead-off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to left-centerfield ? his first of the year. Medina pulled a single through the left side to plate a run, sparking a three-run third frame, followed by RBI singles by Sand and sophomore first baseman Bryan Greer (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights) (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights).
The Blackbirds posted a two-spot in the fifth frame, recording a pair of RBI singles.
With no outs and runners of first and second base, southpaw John O'Hara (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) O'Hara went full extension to snag a bunt attempt then whirled to record the second out of the sixth inning. The junior logged 6.1 innings, striking out four, receiving a no decision.
LIU rallied for a four-run seventh inning, to jump ahead, 6-4, highlighted by RBI singles courtesy of DiMasi and Jones. FDU sophomore right-hander Matt Maltese (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) took the loss, allowing the game-winning run.
In addition to Grabowski's offensive output, Sand tallied two hits.
The Knights host LIU in the series finale at noon, Sunday, May 13.
