The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team dropped a pair of one-run games at Mount St. Mary's University, Friday, May 18 in Emmitsburg, MD. The Mountaineers (34-20 overall, 20-7 Northeast Conference) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on two occasions, as the Knights (9-44 overall, 4-22 NEC) lost game one, 4-3, and the nightcap, 6-5.
In the first ball game, sophomore right-hander Ben Green (Plainview, NY/JFK Plainview) (Plainview, NY) received a no-decision, tossing six innings, allowing three earned runs. Freshman southpaw Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) (Pompton Lakes, NJ) suffered the loss.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth frame, sophomore infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (San Diego, CA) doubled to left-centerfield and scored three batters later on an RBI base knock by junior outfielder John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea) (Staten Island, NY). The following frame, junior infielder Luis Rosario (Bronx, NY/James Monroe) (Bronx, NY) homered to right field, as FDU jumped ahead, 2-1.
Paganotti walked to lead-off the top half of the seventh inning and advanced to second via a sacrifice bunt courtesy of sophomore outfielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) (Peekskill, NY). The Knights took a 3-2 lead when sophomore catcher Mark Morton (Coral Springs, FL/Grandview Prep) (Coral Springs, FL) smacked a pitch through the left side, bringing around Paganotti. However, Mount St. Mary's plated a pair of runs in the home half of the frame, sealing the win.
Sand and Rosario recorded two hits a piece.
In the second contest, Lydecker gained the starting nod, hurling three innings, en route to a no-decision. Freshman righty Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) (Roslyn Heights, NY) logged two frames of hitless relief. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Hennessy (Mahopac, NY/Trinity Pawling) (Mahopac, NY) took the loss through 1,2 innings of work.
Sophomore designated hitter Bryan Greer (Boca Raton, FL/Olympic Heights) (Boca Raton, FL) singled to kick-start the second inning and later scored on a wild pitch to knot the ball game, 1-1. The Mountaineers answered with a trio of runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Fairleigh Dickinson cut the deficit to 4-2 in the third inning, as Rosario scored following an RBI two-bagger to right-centerfield by senior outfielder Chris Grabowski (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) (Brooklyn, NY).
With three outs remaining, the Knights tallied three runs to take command, 5-4. Freshman outfielder Corey Jeffers (Woodbine, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) (Woodbine, NJ) hammered a pitch over the right field fence, marking his first collegiate dinger. Maher and Morton collected back-to-back bunt singles and later crossed the dish on a two-run double to right-centerfield by sophomore infielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, PA).
Grabowski registered a multi-hit effort.
The Knights conclude the 2007 season with a nine inning contest against The Mount at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 19.
