Fairleigh Dickinson University dropped a tandem of baseball games by eight runs, Friday, April 10 in Teaneck, NJ. The Knights slipped to .500 in Northeast Conference action (4-4) and 9-17 overall.
Monmouth maintained its position atop the eight-team league standings at 6-2, en route to improving to 17-14 overall. The Hawks' sticks warmed up late in the seven inning opener, as they claimed an 11-3 win. MU followed with an 8-0 shutout in the nine inning finale.
In game one, senior outfielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) (Peekskill, NY) reached in the first inning via a fielder's choice and proceeded to swipe second base. Sophomore first baseman Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) (Sarasota, FL) slapped a two-bagger to left-centerfield to place FDU ahead, 1-0.
In the top of the second, senior southpaw John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) (Mt. Holly, NJ) issued a free pass with the bases full, followed by a two-RBI single through the left side courtesy of Monmouth sophomore infielder Ryan Terry (Levittown, PA).
The Knights cut into a 3-1 deficit in the third inning. Freshman infielder Matt Holsman (Coral Springs, FL/Stoneman Douglas) (Coral Springs, FL) roped his second hit of the game ? a double to left-centerfield ? to kick-start the frame. Maher went the other way, shooting an RBI double down the right field line.
Senior first baseman Paul Bottigliero (Milford, CT) drove the first pitch of the sixth inning over the centerfield fence, triggering a eight-run rally. Senior outfielder Brett Holland (Pittsburgh, PA) added a two-out RBI double, with sophomore designated hitter Nick Pulsonetti (Old Tappan, NJ) delivering an RBI base knock. Senior infielder Chris Collazo (Wall, NJ) and Bottigliero struck for two RBI's each with singles, while senior infielder Mike Casale (Toms River, NJ) also got into the action, and Monmouth ultimately jumped ahead 11-3.
Meadus was saddled with the loss, despite sitting down five over 5.2 innings of work. MU junior right-hander Ryan Buch (Yardley, PA) countered with 11 strikeouts through 6.0 innings, and moved to 4-1 on the season.
FDU senior righty Ryan Hennessy (Mahopac, NY/Trinity Pawling) (Mahopac, NY) logged an inning of scoreless relief.
Holsman's two hits led the Knights' line-up, while Dillon got aboard twice. Maher crossed the dish on two occasions. Pulsonetti, Collazo, Bottigliero, and senior catcher Bobby Dombrowski (Denville, NJ) all put forth multi-hit efforts for Monmouth.
In the nightcap, Hawks' right-hander Brett Brach (Freehold, NJ) quieted FDU's offense, yielding only three hits. The junior improved to 4-0 after rolling through 8.0 innings and fanning seven.
Three fielding blunders allowed the Hawks to collect a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first frame. Another error placed MU ahead, 3-0 in the second. The ensuing inning, Pulsonetti scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman outfielder David Jacob (Sussex, NJ).
MU freshman outfielder Josh Boyd (Port Murry, NJ) drove in a run with a base hit in the fourth ? the first earned run against Fairleigh Dickinson's righty started Nicholas Melchiorre (Mt. Laurel, NJ) ? amidst pushing the score to 5-0. Holland made it 6-0 in the sixth inning, following an RBI three-bagger to centerfield; then in the eighth, he poked a two-run home run to the identical section of the field.
Melchiorre hurled 6.0 innings. The junior sat down seven and allowed one earned run. Sophomore right-hander Spencer Kelly (Rockville, MD/The Bullis School) (Rockville, MD) tossed 1.1 innings of hitless relief.
Holland paced the MU offense with three hits and three RBI. Pulsonetti and Boyd chipped-in two-hit showings.
Fairleigh Dickinson travels to Manhattan College at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 15.
