The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team knocked off visiting Central Connecticut State University, 12-9, Saturday, May 17 at FDU Field in Teaneck, NJ.  In game two, CCSU collected a 7-4 decision.

The Knights rallied in the opener for six runs in the bottom of the eighth, finishing the afternoon at 14-38 overall and 9-16 in the Northeast Conference.  In the nightcap, Central Connecticut (24-21 overall, 18-8 NEC) senior southpaw Matt Gianini (West Haven, CT) went the distance, allowing three earned runs while scattering eight hits.

On Senior Day, designated hitter John O'Hara (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY) went 5-for-5 with a home run and a double.  The veteran drove in three runs and scored twice in his 2008 debut (game one) at the dish.

The Blue Devils plated a run in the top of the first inning, as sophomore infielder Anthony Scialdone (West Hartford, CT) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.  The visitors pushed the score to 2-0 the following frame, registering an unearned run.

Freshman first baseman Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) (Sarasota, FL) pulled a pitch through the right side then advanced to second base following a defensive bobble.  FDU's third-straight hit scored freshman catcher Erik Pollag (Sicklerville, NJ/Paul VI) (Sicklerville, NJ), creating a 2-1 contest.

Junior infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (San Diego, CA) blasted a solo shot to left-centerfield to knot things, 2-2, in the bottom of the third.

Fairleigh Dickinson loaded the bases in the fourth frame, but was unable to take the lead. 

CCSU responded the next inning, going up, 3-2 ? a byproduct of a balk.  Freshman infielder Pat Epps (Waterford, CT) went opposite field for an RBI two-bagger.  Senior outfielder Jak Kidd (Casper, WY) drove in a pair on the strength of a two-run double into the left-centerfield gap.  Sophomore first baseman Tommy Meade (Pearl River, NY) sent a pitch back through the box for an RBI single, extending the advantage to 7-2.

In the sixth, O'Hara improved to 3-for-3 on the year, and afternoon, lining a double off the left field fence to cut the deficit to 7-3.  Blue Devils sophomore outfielder Kyle Zarotney (Berlin, CT) countered with an RBI single in the top of the seventh.

Junior outfielder Brett Lazar (Commack, NY/Commack) (Commack, NY) stretched his hit streak to 14 games in the bottom of the seventh, stroking a single up the middle to cut the margin to 8-4.  O'Hara continued the rally, making it 8-6 with a two-run home run to right field.

Junior outfielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) (Peekskill, NY) smacked a double to right-centerfield to kick-start FDU's eighth inning rally.  Lazar poked a base knock to centerfield to score the first run.  Junior pinch hitter Vincent Pennacchio (Huntington Station, NY/Commack) (Huntington Station, NY) and Lazar collected RBI singles.  O'Hara recorded his career-best fifth hit, followed by a balk.  Maher capped the surge with a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore right-hander Nicholas Melchiorre (Mount Laurel, NJ) received a no decision, working 6.1 innings.  The Knights' comeback denied Central Connecticut senior righty John Tesseyman (High Falls, NY) his eighth victory of the year.  He fanned four over 6.0 innings.

FDU freshman righty Evan Dechant (Asheville, NC/Asheville) (Ashville, NC) tossed 1.2 innings to pick up his first collegiate win.  Junior right-hander Ben Green (Plainview, NY/JFK Plainview) (Plainview, NY) induced a twin killing to net his second save of the season. 

Blue Devils sophomore lefty Donny White (Wallingford, CT) was saddled with the loss, surrendering four earned runs over one-third of an inning.

Maher, Lazar, Pollag, and Dillon all posted multi-hit efforts.  Scialdone, Epps and Meade registered two hits a piece.

In the nightcap, sophomore infielder Sean Allaire (Bristol, CT) lead-off the game with a homer to right field.  In the third, Central Connecticut pushed its lead to 3-0, staging a two-out burst ? both runs proving unearned.  Epps played wall ball in right-centerfield to plate a run, followed by an RBI base hit by Kidd to right field.

A sacrifice fly courtesy of Sand scored Maher, cutting the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the third.  However, freshman infielder Sean Miller-Jones (Centerville, MA) enabled to visitors to regain a three-run margin in the following frame, stroking an RBI single up the middle.

Meade deposited a two-out offering over the centerfield fence to create a 6-1 contest in the top of the fifth.  Gianini maneuvered out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, ultimately escaping unscathed.

Blue Devils junior outfielder Casey Walko (Freehold, NJ) went yard in the seventh inning. 

In the bottom portion of the frame, Fairleigh Dickinson freshman infielder Andrew Ahn (Manhasset Hills, NY/Benjamin Cardoza) (Manahasset Hills, NY) roped an RBI double to left-centerfield.  The next batter, junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, PA), slapped an RBI two-bagger, followed by an RBI groundout by Sand, drawing FDU to a 7-4 hole. 

Freshman right-hander Zachary Kisling (Marlton, NJ) made his first conference start logging 3.1 innings.  Freshman righty Chris Theordor (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech) (Staten Island, NY) entered from the pen to toss a season-high 2.2 frames.  Freshman right-hander Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) (Roslyn Heights, NY) threw the seventh.

Lazar banged out another hit in game two, and enters the season finale in the midst of a 15-game hit streak. 

Maher and Ahn paced the Knights offense with a tandem of hits.  Walko, Epps, and Meade countered with multi-hit showings.

Fairleigh Dickinson plays two versus CCSU, Sunday, May 18.  First pitch is set for noon.