The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team fell, 8-7 and 9-5, versus Mount St. Mary's University, Saturday, April 18 in Emmitsburg, MD.  The Knights (9-21 overall) dropped to 4-7 in Northeast Conference play.

In the opener, The Mount (16-16 overall, 8-3 NEC) plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to notch an 8-7 decision.  Junior Jacob Darr stroked a walk-off double, capping the utility man's three-hit, two-RBI day.

FDU fell behind in the bottom of the first, 1-0, following an RBI two-bagger by Darr.  With one swing of the bat, freshman infielder Ryan Kresky (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) placed the Knights ahead, 3-1, in the second inning with a dinger to dead centerfield.

Red-shirt junior outfielder Mark Morton (Coral Springs, FL/Grandview Prep) smacked a three-run shot in the third to shift Fairleigh Dickinson ahead, 6-1.  In the bottom portion of the frame, southpaw John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) walked in a run.  The senior ultimately sat down six.

In the fourth, the Knights took command, 7-2, via senior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional)'s RBI base knock.  

Meadus took a no decision, working 3.2 innings.  Junior right-hander Corey Jeffers (Woodbine, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) contributed 1.1 innings of hitless relief.  Junior lefty Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) came on in the seventh was saddled with the loss.

A five-run eruption by the Mountaineers in the fourth frame knotted the game at seven.  Sophomore designated hitter Kyle Kane and freshman first baseman Josh Winter both brought around a pair with a single and double, respectively.

Freshman infielder Matt Holsman (Coral Springs, FL/Stoneman Douglas) notched three hits for the second occasion this week.  Junior first baseman Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) got aboard twice on the strength of a hit and a walk, with senior catcher Vincent Pennacchio (Huntington Station, NY/Commack) working a pair of walks.

A day after slamming the door on FDU, junior right-hander Mike Matta hurled 2.1 innings of shutout ball to collect the win.  Junior starter Costa Kapothanasis, a righty, surrendered seven earned runs in 3.0 innings.

In game two, red-shirt junior designated hitter Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) went 4-for-4.  Junior right-hander Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) turned in 5.0 innings, but took a no decision.

The Knights loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, but came up empty.  Mount St. Mary's did the same in their turn at the dish, and sophomore outfielder Shane Eyler made it 2-0 by shooting a single up the middle.

A fielder's choice off the bat of Vincent made it 2-1 in the second.  The following frame, senior outfielder Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) lifted a sacrifice fly and freshman catcher Scott Morrison (Coral Springs, FL/J.P. Taravella) beat out an RBI-infield single, making it 3-2 in favor of Fairleigh Dickinson.  Darr immediately responded, leading off The Mount's portion of the inning with a solo shot to right field.

Two pieces of contact that failed to leave the infield enabled the Mountaineers to go up, 5-3, in bottom of the fifth.  But Sand stayed hot and tied the game, 5-5, in the sixth inning, following his two-run yard work to centerfield.

Senior righty Ryan Hennessy (Mahopac, NY/Trinity Pawling) allowed four runs in the sixth, en route to the loss.  Darr went for yet another RBI-double, while senior outfielder Matt Staso punctuated the rally with a similar effort that cleared the bases.

Morrison complemented Sand's solid game with a two-hit showing.  Dillon netted a tandem of free passes, while Morton and Kresky added a hit and a walk a piece.

The Mount's freshman lefty Brady Feigl left the game in line for the victory after tossing 5.0 innings.  Matta collected his second win of the day, toeing the rubber for the final 2.0 innings.

The series concludes with a nine-inning contest at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at Straw Family Stadium.