The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team halved a doubleheader in Hamden, CT versus Quinnipiac University, Friday, April 11. FDU started the day with an 11-5 victory, but dropped game two, 7-4, en route to shifting to 2-3 in the Northeast Conference and 7-21 overall.
Junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) stole the show in the opener, reaching base six times, while registering three hits and four RBI.
The Knights broke open a scoreless ball game in the top of the second, posting a four-spot. Junior outfielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) got things going with a one-out, infield single, while freshman infielder Steven LaForge (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary) brought in the first run after being plunked with the sacks full. Vincent walked with the bases loaded, followed by a two-RBI bunt single by freshman first baseman Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney).
An RBI groundout in the bottom half of the frame by junior catcher Michael Marmo cut it to a 4-1 FDU advantage.
The Knights responded with a two-out, three-run outburst in the top half of the third, highlighted by a trio of RBI base knocks. Junior outfielder Brett Lazar (Commack, NY/Commack) started things off, with freshman infielder Andrew Ahn (Manhasset Hills, NY/Benjamin Cardoza) plating the first run after a single to right. LaForge and Vincent then followed suit.
The Bobcats (6-18 overall, 1-5 NEC) tallied a pair of runs in the fourth frame ? fueled by three hits ? to shift the score to 7-3.
Junior John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) got the starting nod, tossing 5.0 innings, en route to his second-straight win in as many appearances. Sophomore right-hander Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) added 2.2 innings of shutout ball, with freshman righty Zachary Kisling contributing a hitless ninth inning.
Vincent brought home a run in the fifth with a base hit. Senior infielder Luis Rosario (Bronx, NY/James Monroe) deposited a solo shot over the right-centerfield wall in ensuing inning. Quinnipiac kept fighting back, led by freshman outfielder Ben Farina's RBI two-bagger, making it 9-5 in the bottom of the sixth.
Ahn triggered a two-run seventh with a lead-off double down the line. Vincent and junior infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) each drove in a run with singles.
Maher, Ahn, and LaForge finished with multi-hit efforts. Conversely, three Bobcats also went for two-hit showings.
QU junior lefty Chris Gloor was saddled with the loss after allowing six earned runs through 5.0 innings.
In the third inning of the nightcap, Dillon scored on a wild pitch slash QU's advantage, 2-1. However, the Bobcats went up 7-1, propelled by a five-run bottom half of the inning. Malmo's two-run dinger highlighted the frame that included two FDU errors.
Lazar crossed the dish in the sixth, after sophomore designated hitter Patrick Furey (Ponoma, NY/North Rockland) smacked a triple to centerfield. Rosario clubbed his second home rune of the afternoon, a two-run shot, in the seventh, creating a 7-4 contest. The infielder, senior catcher John Paganotti (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph By The Sea), and Maher recorded two-hit games.
Quinnipiac's Farina and Malmo notched two hits a piece. Senior right-hander Tyler Brett picked up the victory, after being replaced with one out in the seventh inning. Senior righty Eric Bretscher closed things out.
FDU sophomore right-hander Nicholas Melchiorre suffered the loss, working 5.0 innings. Freshman right-hander Spencer Kelly (Rockville, MD/The Bullis School) hurled a scoreless sixth inning.
The two teams play a pair of games at starting at noon, Saturday, April 12.
