The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team came from behind to defeat visiting Long Island University, 8-7, Sunday, May 13 at FDU Field in Teaneck, NJ. Freshman Stephen Brush (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) hurled two shutout inning of relief, grabbing his first collegiate victory.

Freshman southpaw Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) recorded his first career save, working two-straight 1-2-3 innings, as the Knights improved to 9-39 on the season and 4-19 in the Northeast Conference.

The Blackbirds (12-34, 6-17 NEC) put up a three-spot in the first frame, following an RBI groundout by outfielder Frank DiMasi (Staten Island, NY) and back-to-back RBI base knocks by first baseman James Jones (Brooklyn, NY) and infielder Greg DeSantis (Bridgewater, NJ).

In the bottom half of the inning, junior outfielder John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea/Rockland CC) lined a two-out single into left field to plate a run. Sophomore first baseman Bryan Greer (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights) (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights) and sophomore catcher Mark Morton (Coral Springs, FL/Grandview Prep) (Coral Springs, FL/Grandview Prep) followed suit with RBI singles, tying the contest, 3-3.

LIU outfielder Robert Rowen (Rosendale, NY) poked a two-out base hit into centerfield in the top of the second, shifting the visitors ahead, 4-3. DiMasi grounded into a fielder's choice in the fifth, before Jones slapped a pitch through the left side and DeSantis laced a pitch into centerfield, as the Blackbirds increased their margin to 7-3.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, sophomore infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) roped an RBI two-bagger into the right-centerfield, scoring sophomore outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional), who previously walked.

FDU rallied for four runs in the seventh to jump ahead 8-7. Senior outfielder Vincente-Alexander Medina (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) (North Bergen, NJ/Paramus Catholic) one-hopped a double off the left field fence to plate a pair of Knights who walked to reach base. Morton pulled an RBI single through the left side and Fairleigh Dickinson tallied the go-ahead run via a throwing error on the play.

Freshman right-hander Nicholas Melchiorre (Mount Laurel, NJ/Holy Cross) notched a no-decision, tossing five innings. Lydecker struck out three of the six batters he faced over the eighth and ninth frames.

Grabowski paced the offense, collecting three hits on the afternoon. Medina, Paganotti and Morton contributed two-hit performances. Vincent worked three base on balls.

The Knights travel to the Bronx, NY to take on Fordham University, Tuesday, May 15 in a twin bill. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m.