The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team fell, 9-6 and 8-7, against Sacred Heart University, Saturday, April 26 in Teaneck, NJ.
Despite junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, PA) collecting three hits and a career-high five RBI in game one, the Knights ultimately dipped to 9-30 overall and 4-10 in the Northeast Conference. In the nightcap, a five-run fifth frame cost FDU. Junior outfielder Brett Lazar (Commack, NY/Commack) (Commack, NY) stroked three hits, including a pair of doubles, and scored three runs.
In the first contest, Sacred Heart freshman outfielder Matt Fitton (Lebanon, CT) went yard in the eighth inning, pushing a 6-6 ball game to 9-6 in favor of the Pioneers (9-30 overall, 7-8 NEC).
SHU used a three-hit first frame to jump out to a 2-0 advantage. Junior outfielder Ryan Lynch (North Babylon, NY) and freshman catcher Steve Armato (Greenwich, CT) notched RBI base knocks.
The margin was extended to 3-0 when junior infielder Phil Tantillo (Blue Point, NY) singled to start the fourth inning, and scored two batters later on a fielder's choice.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Vincent tied the contest, 3-3, unloading the sacks with a double to right-centerfield.
The following frame, Sacred Heart regained the lead, 4-3, as Tantillo roped his second two-bagger to left-centerfield, bringing around freshman infielder MJ Schifano (North Haven, CT) from first. Sophomore infielder JJ Edwards (Endwell, NY) and junior infielder Tyler Santos (Johnson City, NY) also plated runs with hits, en route to a 6-3 advantage for the visitors.
FDU answered in the fifth, once again led by Vincent. With the bases loaded, Lazar was plunked for the second time. Vincent then smoked a shot up the middle to score two more, knotting the game, 6-6.
Senior southpaw John O'Hara (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY) battled through 4.1 innings and received a no decision, while fanning eight Pioneers. Sophomore righty Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) (Roslyn Heights, NY) entered from the bullpen, hurling 1.1 innings.
Sophomore lefty Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) (Pompton Lakes, NJ) and sophomore righty Nicholas Melchiorre (Mount Laurel, NJ) combined to work through the eighth. Melchiorre took the loss over 1.2 innings of work.
SHU right-hander Jack Wagoner (Berlin, CT) tossed 4.2 innings and struck out seven, but recorded a no decision. Freshman righty Nick Oswald (Mineola, NY) relieved the rookie, and logged 3.1 scoreless frames, highlighted by a bases loaded twin killing to send the game into extra innings.
Freshman infielder Steven LaForge (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary) (Garfield, NJ) and Lazar contributed multi-hit efforts. Junior outfielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) (Peekskill, NY) swiped three bases, with Lazar reaching base on four occasions.
The Pioneers were paced freshman infielder Chris Whittemore's (Lavellette, NJ) four hits, flanked by three from Tantillo. Lynch and Edwards added two hits a piece.
In game two, Fairleigh Dickinson took command, 3-0, in the top of the first inning. Junior infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (San Diego, CA) tagged a two-bagger to left-centerfield to get the Knights on the board. LaForge added an RBI groundout, followed by a sacrifice fly courtesy of Maher.
With one swing, Sacred Heart evened the score, 3-3, in the second. Fitton deposited a pitch over the centerfield fence, marking his second dinger of the day off Melchiorre.
FDU regained the lead, 5-3, in the second inning. Junior catcher Vincent Pennacchio (Huntington Station, NY/Commack) (Huntington Station, NY) started things off with a base hit to right. Lazar posted his first extra-base hit of the season with an RBI double, followed by a clutch RBI single by Sand.
Melchiorre was chased from the bump in the fifth, as the first two Pioneers got aboard. Tantillo laced a two-RBI double, followed by an RBI base knock by Edwards. Fitton was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced, then Whittemore capped the surge by lifting a sacrifice fly
Fairleigh Dickinson cut the margin to 8-6 in the bottom portion of the fifth frame. Lazar roped a two-bagger into the gap, with LaForge driving him home via a double down the left field line.
Pennacchio tacked on the home-standing squad's seventh run in the sixth inning. Freshman first baseman Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) (Sarasota, FL) scored due to his lead-off single.
Knights freshman right-hander Evan Dechant (Asheville, NC/Asheville) (Asheville, NC) suffered the loss, working two-thirds of an inning. Strachman kept SHU at bay for 1.2 innings of hitless ball.
Sophomore lefty Jared Balbach (Pine Bush, NY) allowed six runs over 5.0 innings to improve to 3-6 on the year. Sophomore right-hander Chris Zaccherio (Manhasset, NY) tossed 2.0 innings to earn the save.
Sand finished with two hits and two RBI. Eight Pioneers tallied hits, led by Fitton's four RBI.
The series finale against Sacred Heart is slated for 1:00 p.m., Sunday, April 27 at FDU Field.
