The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team lost, 8-7, in the bottom of the ninth inning against Fordham University, Tuesday, May 15 in the Bronx, NY. In the first of two games on the evening, the Knights turned a quartet of double plays, despite falling to 9-40 overall.
FDU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first frame, as sophomore infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (San Diego, CA) grounded out to shortstop to plate sophomore infielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, PA), who walked a batter prior. The Rams (29-20) tied the ball game in the bottom half of the inning, 1-1, tallying a run with the bases full, amidst a 5-4-3 double play.
Fordham took a 2-1 lead in the second, following an RBI base knock by infielder Rich Goulian (Kinnelton, NJ) ? his second-straight hit. FU infielder Jordan Lert (Westport, NY) notched an RBI, grounding out to second base in the ensuing frame, before outfielder Danny Leach (Yonkers, NY) collected an RBI two-bagger in the fourth.
Sophomore first baseman Bryan Greer (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights) (Boca Raton, FL) laced a two-out liner into centerfield with the sacks full to score a tandem of runs in the fifth, cutting the deficit to 4-3. In the bottom half of the frame, Lert singled through the left side to tack on another Rams run, before sophomore righty reliever Nick Blanco (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond's) (Bronx, NY) worked out of a bases loaded jam, inducing a 3-2-3 twin killing.
Fairleigh Dickinson put up a four-spot in the sixth inning to regain the lead, 7-5. Vincent jerked a double down the left field line in the sixth inning, scoring junior infielder Luis Rosario (Bronx, NY/James Monroe) (Bronx, NY), who was hit by the first pitch of the frame. Sand brought in a pair of Knights, slapping a pitch into right field, then Greer drove a pitch back through the box for an RBI base hit.
In the seventh, Fordham first baseman Michael Taddei (Medford, NY) hit a slow chopper that had eyes and eluded Rosario's glove for a two-out RBI single, creating a 7-6 contest.
Rams' pinch hitter Ryan McCrann (Needham, MA) deposited a solo shot over the right-centerfield wall with one out in the eighth, knotting things, 7-7.
Sophomore righty Matt Maltese (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) (New Rochelle, NY), allowing the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning ? an RBI single up the middle, courtesy of catcher Chris Kaible.
Freshman left-hander Joseph Finora (Mattituck, NY/Mattituck) (Mattituck, NY) received a no decision his first collegiate start, allowing four runs ? three earned ? through 3.2 innings. Blanco hurled 3.1 innings of relief.
Junior outfielder John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) (Staten Island, NY) set a career-high, singling in his first four at-bats. Vincent scored a trio of runs, while Sand and Greer notched three RBI a piece.
The nightcap ? a seven inning ball game ? is slated for 8:30 p.m.
