The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team snapped its eight-game losing streak in a big way Saturday afternoon as they swept Central Connecticut State in an NEC doubleheader at FDU Field in Teaneck The Knights won the first game, 6-4, behind the strong pitching of senior Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn). In the second game, the Knights held off a late Blue Devils' rally and won, 5-3. With the victories, the Knights improve to 3-11 (2-0 NEC), while the Blue Devils fall to 3-7 (0-2 NEC) overall.
In game one, the Knights struck first in the bottom on the second when freshman Eric Anderson (Allendale, N.J./Northern Highlands) scored on sophomore Scott Morrison (Coral Springs, FL/J.P. Taravella)'s RBI groundout. The Knights then tacked on one more run in the bottom of the third when sophomore Mike Eliasen (Swedesboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) scored on junior Steven LaForge (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary)'s sacrifice fly.
With the Knights nursing a 2-0 lead in the sixth, the Blue Devils tied the game at 2 on Patt Epps' home run to left center. However, the Knights answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. Junior DJ Robinson (Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) started the rally as he singled home junior Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney). Junior Joe Martno followed with an RBI double to scored Robinson. Morrison then drove home his second run of the game with another RBI groundout, scoring Anderson.
The Knights tacked on one more run in the bottom of the seventh when LaForge scored on Robinson's RBI groundout.
The Blue Devils were able to plate two runs in the top of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Knights took game one, 6-4.
Strachman (1-2) gave the Knights their best pitching performance of the season. The senior pitched 7.0 innings. He gave up two runs, both earned, on only five hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. Freshman Craig Warner (Coral Springs, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and junior Spencer Kelly (Rockville, MD/The Bullis School) pitched the ninth to preserve the win. Harry Glynne took the loss on the hill for the Blue Devils.
Martino led the Knights' ten hit attack by going 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Dillion and Eliasen each collected two hits and scored a run. Robinson and Morrison each had two RBI's, and Anderson scored two runs.
Anthony Scialdone and Normand Gosselin each had two hits for the Blue Devils.
In game two, which was only seven innings, the Knights received another outstanding pitching performance from freshman Ashley Bulluck (Hollywood, FL/South Broward) (1-2), who earned the victory on the mound. The big righty pitched 5.0 innings, giving up only one earned run on five hits. He walked four and struck out five.
Once again, the Knights scored first when Robinson scored on Morrison's RBI single. They stretched the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third on Dillon's RBI groundout, which scored sophomore Matt Holsman (Coral Springs, FL/Stoneman Douglas). LaForge then scored on Robinson's RBI single.
After the first two Knights' were retired in the bottom of the fourth, Eliasen doubled home sophomore Ryan Kresky (Freehold, NJ/Freehold). Eliasen then scored on an error to put the Knights up, 5-0.
The Blue Devils then scored a run off Bulluck in the fifth on Scialdone's sacrifice fly.
Warner relived Bulluck to start the sixth and only lasted 0.1 innings. Central Connecticut State scored twice in the sixth to cut the Knights's lead to 5-3. Warner gave up two runs, both earned, on two hits. He walked two and did not strike out a batter. Kelly relived Warner and pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn the save. He gave up one hit, walked one, struck out one, and did not allow a run.
Robinson and Kresky each went 2-for-3 to pace the Knights. The team only had seven hits. Richie Tri and Mitch Wells each had two hits for the Blue Devils as they only collected eight hits as a team.
Dave Krasnowieski took the loss on the hill for the Blue Devils. He went the distance, giving up five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two.
The series wraps up tomorrow with another doubleheader. Game one is slated for seven innings and game two is scheduled to be nine innings. First pitch for game one is at 12:00 p.m. at FDU Field in Teaneck.
