The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team split a doubleheader, Saturday, April 25 in Teaneck, NJ versus Quinnipiac University. The Knights (10-25 overall, 5-10 Northeast Conference) came from behind to earn a 10-9 decision in the opener, but dropped game two, 18-2.
In game one, FDU rallied for a five-spot in the bottom of the seventh ? their second such inning of the game ? led by pinch hitter Erik Pollag (Sicklerville, NJ/Paul VI) (Sicklerville, NJ). The sophomore poked a two-out double to empty the bases and provide the squad with a dramatic walk-off victory. Four runs came with two outs, en route to snapping a 10-game losing skid.
Junior right-hander Corey Jeffers (Woodbine, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) (Woodbine, NJ) collected his first victory of the year, providing a scoreless seventh inning of relief. Freshman infielder Matt Holsman (Coral Springs, FL/Stoneman Douglas) (Coral Springs, FL) notched three hits, while freshman catcher Scott Morrison (Coral Springs, FL/J.P. Taravella) (Coral Springs, FL) went for two hits and three RBI. Sophomore designated hitter Joe Martino (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) (Westbury, NY) finished 2-for-2, getting on base four times.
Quinnipiac (12-25 overall, 5-10 NEC) went up 4-0 in the top half of the first inning. Junior outfielder Brian Monack (Branford, CT) tripled down the right field line to plate freshman infielder Chris Migani (Orange, CT) who doubled to start the afternoon. A one-out error allowed QU's second run to cross the dish, prior to sophomore designated hitter Joe Poletsky (Riverside, CT) lining a two-run homer to center.
Holsman deposited the first pitch of the bottom of fourth over the centerfield fence. Counterpart Ryan Kresky (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ) knocked a bases loaded two-bagger into the right-centerfield gap, allowing two runs to come in. Morrison then stroked a two-RBI single to right and the Knights held a 5-4 command.
Bobcats' senior infielder Bryn Doyle (Manchester, NH) knotting things at five in the fifth frame, blooping an RBI single to right field. The following inning, senior catcher Michael Marmo (Roslyn, NY) went yard to centerfield. Two batters later, Poletsky ripped his second bomb of the day; and by the inning's end, QU was up, 9-5.
In the seventh, Martino worked a walk with the sacks full. Morrison followed suit, making it 9-7, before Pollag's clutch delivery.
Senior southpaw John Meadus (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) (Mt. Holly, NJ) logged 5.0 innings and accepted a no decision. Meanwhile, QU senior righty Andy Mayer (Trumbull, CT) hurled 6.1 innings and suffered a similar fate.
The nightcap featured 14 runs by the Bobcats over the final three frames. Senior right-hander Mike Oskandy (Bethel, CT) put together 7.0 innings and scattered five hits to improve to 2-6 on the season.
Sophomore infielder Michael Amanti (Waterford, CT) connected on a solo shot in the second inning. Doyle skied a two-run dinger in the frame, as Quinnipiac jumped ahead three to zip. The Knights got one run back via an RBI groundout courtesy of Martino in the bottom portion of the frame.
In the third, an infield single with two outs allowed the Bobcats to regain a three-run margin. Martino cut it to 4-2 in the fourth inning with an RBI base knock through the right side.
The score stood at 9-2 in favor of the visitors, a result of a five-hit inning, through the top of the fifth frame. Freshman first baseman Gabe Guerino (Milford, CT) punctuated the five-run rally with a two-RBI double. The next inning, Monack smoked a solo shot to left-centerfield ? the first of a tandem of two QU runs.
Monack sparked a seven-run push in the seventh. He connected on another dinger, pushing the cushion to double-digits. Poletsky then placed the Bobcats in front, 14-2, following a two-run double. Amanti continued the brigade, cashing in with a two-RBI single, flanked by RBI base hits from Doyle and Monack.
FDU junior righty Nicholas Melchiorre (Mt. Laurel, NJ) was saddled with the loss, working 4.0 innings.
Quinnipiac finished the nightcap with 22 hits, with Monack's four hits and three RBI leading the way. Conversely, red-shirt junior first baseman Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) (San Diego, CA) and Pollag proved the lone Fairleigh Dickinson student-athletes to reach twice, both tallying one hit and one free pass each.
The four-game, NEC series concludes at FDU Field with a nine-inning contest at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, April 26.
