The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team scored six unanswered runs to edge visiting Iona College in 10 innings, Wednesday, April 9 in Teaneck, NJ.
The Knights (6-20) fell behind by five runs, but rallied by the bottom half of the ninth to knot the contest, 5-5.
Gaels' (1-25) senior outfielder Paul Salerno (New City, NY) started things off the a double to right-centerfield and later scored on a sacrifice fly courtesy of sophomore outfielder Andrew Passerelle (Sparta, NJ) to give Iona a 1-0 advantage.
Iona upped the lead to 5-0 in the second inning, as senior infielder Allie Abbatiello (Eastchester, NY) poked a three-run home run to right field. Junior outfielder Brett Lazar (Commack, NY/Commack) (Commack, NY) got FDU on the board with an RBI base knock, plating junior Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) (Peekskill, NY) who started the frame with a double.
Maher jacked a solo shot to left-centerfield to kick-start a three-run sixth inning to cut the deficit to 5-4. Freshman infielder Andrew Ahn (Manhasset Hills, NY/Benjamin Cardoza) (Manhasset Hills, NY) added an RBI infield single in the frame.
Right-hander Evan Dechant (Asheville, NC/Asheville) (Asheville, NC) received a no decision, hurling 4.0 innings. The freshman allowed one earned run. Sophomore southpaw Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) (Pompton Lakes, NJ) tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen, followed by freshman righty Zachary Kisling (Marlboro, NJ) striking out the side in the next frame.
Iona sophomore lefty William Dorsa (Massapequa, NY) received the starting nod, registering three strikeouts through 3.0 innings. Freshman righty Tom Sweeney (Salem, NH) came on in relief, working 2.0 innings, with freshman right-hander Matthew Casino (Port Chester, NY) adding 1.2 innings of shutout ball.
Sophomore righty Nicholas Melchiorre (Mount Laurel, NJ), senior left-hander John O'Hara (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY), and junior southpaw John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) (Mount Holly, NJ) combined for 3.1 innings of one-hit ball, fanning six. Meadus would get the victory, improving to 1-4 on the season.
In the bottom of the ninth, junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, PA) walked and stole second, but was thrown out at home following a single off the bat of senior infielder Luis Rosario (Bronx, NY/James Monroe) (Bronx, NY). Rosario advanced to second on the throw to the plate and scored the tying run after an RBI base hit by Maher down the right field line.
Ahn sparked a two-out rally in the tenth with a single to right-centerfield and shifted to second on an infield hit by freshman infielder Steven LaForge (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary) (Garfield, NJ). Ahn hustled to third on a passed ball and a throwing error by the Gaels' catcher allowed him to plate the game-winning run (which likely would have been awarded after the umpire ruled obstruction after the throw went into foul territory).
LaForge finished with a career-high four hits, while Maher added three hits and two RBI. Rosario, Lazar, and Ahn contributed multi-hit efforts.
Iona sophomore right-hander Mike McManemin (Dallas, Texas) took the loss after 0.2 innings of the tenth. Salerno finished with a pair of hits.
The Knights travel to Hamden, CT, Friday, April 11 to begin a four-game set with Quinnipiac University. First pitch for the nine-inning contest is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
