The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team split a pair of games versus Monmouth University, Saturday, May 10 in West Long Branch, NJ. The Knights (13-35 overall, 8-13 Northeast Conference) fell in game one, 8-2, but rallied behind senior lefty John O'Hara (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's)'s stellar outing for a 2-0 victory in the nightcap.
FDU went up 1-0 in the third frame, as junior outfielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) tallied an RBI base knock to score junior infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay), who also singled. However, Monmouth (32-13 overall, 17-5 NEC) junior outfielder Paul Bottigliero capped a four-run rebuttal in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run home run.
Two runs in the fourth and sixth innings by the home-standing squad created an 8-1 deficit. Both rallies included sacrifice flies.
Right-hander Ben Green (Plainview, NY/JFK Plainview) suffered the loss, hurling 6.0 innings. The junior fanned five, allowing three earned runs. Hawks ace, senior righty Brad Brach, logged 6.0 innings, sitting down five, en route to the W.
Sophomore designated hitter Patrick Furey (Ponoma, NY/North Rockland) made it an 8-2 contest following a fielder's choice in the seventh.
Junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) paced the offense with two hits and reached on three occasions. Senior infielder Luis Rosario (Bronx, NY/James Monroe) and junior outfielder Brett Lazar (Commack, NY/Commack) also notched a pair of hits each, while freshman first baseman Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) reached twice.
Junior outfielder Brett Holland provided MU with two hits, two runs, and two stolen bases.
In game two, O'Hara fanned seven and only allowed three hits over 7.0 innings to collect the complete-game shutout.
In the third, Sand drove in Vincent and Lazar with a two-bagger to left-centerfield.
Maher went 3-for-3, flanked by Vincent going 2-for-2 with a walk.
Senior southpaw Matt Marc-Aurele went the distance, but was saddled with the loss.
FDU will take on the Hawks at noon, Sunday, May 11. A twin bill ? composed of seven and nine-inning games ? is slated.
