The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team was bested by home-standing Wagner College, 7-6, Friday, May 15 in Staten Island, NY. The Knights stranded ten runners on the afternoon, en route to slipping to 11-14 in Northeast Conference action and 16-31 overall.
Freshman infielder Matt Holsman (Coral Springs, FL/Stoneman Douglas) ripped three hits, coupled with two RBI, to pace the offense. Sophomore designated hitter Joe Martino (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) added a pair of extra base hits (a double and a solo home run), but Fairleigh Dickinson had a pair of base runners caught stealing ? both at third base.
The Knights received 5.0 innings from starter Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn). However, the junior right-hander ? who sat down three batters ? fell to 3-2 on the year. Strachman was staked a 2-0 advantage in the third frame as Martino went yard to right-centerfield and senior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) later crossed the dish via a wild pitch.
Four runs off six hits in the bottom portion of the third inning afforded the Seahawks (27-19 overall, 14-9 NEC) a two-run lead. Over the ensuing three frames, both teams tacked on a run in each of its at-bats. Vincent worked a walk with the sacks full to start the trend in the fourth.
Holsman ushered in the fifth frame with a dinger to left, and in the sixth, the freshman pulled a pitch through the left side to plate a run. Martino poked a two-bagger into the right-centerfield gap in the top of the seventh inning, slicing the margin to 7-6.
Junior Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) turned in 1.1 innings of hitless relief. The appearance was the southpaw's fourth-consecutive scoreless showing from the bullpen.
Wagner senior righty Andrew Heubner hurled the final 1.1 frames to register his league-leading 11th save. Matt Watson picked-up the decision, fanning five. Watson went 5.2 innings to collect his NEC-best ninth victory.
Five student-athletes notched two-hit showings for the Seahawks, with junior outfielder Damian Csakai adding two RBI amidst the aforementioned effort.
The squads play a twin bill, Saturday, May 16 at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. First pitch is set for noon.
