The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team dropped its final non-conference game of the season as they lost to Rutgers Wednesday afternoon, 8-2 in Piscataway, NJ. The Knights had a 2-1 lead in the fourth before the Scarlet Knights tied the game in the bottom half of the frame. Rutgers took the lead for good with a two-run sixth and put the game away with a four-run eighth. With the victory, the Scarlet Knights improve to 26-23 on the season, while the Knights fall to 14-36 overall.
The Knights got on the board first as they scored a run in the top of the second to take an early 1-0. With two outs, sophomore Mike Eliasen (Swedesboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) singled through the left side. He then stole second and scored on fellow classmate Scott Morrison (Coral Springs, FL/J.P. Taravella)'s infield single.
Rutgers tied the game with a run of their own in the bottom of the third on Russ Hopkins' RBI single to center.
Morrison gave the Knights a 2-1 lead in the fourth as he singled home sophomore Ryan Kresky (Freehold, NJ/Freehold). However, the Scarlet Knights once again answered in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game on Jarred Jimenez's home run to left field.
The Scarlet Knights took the lead for good in the sixth as they scored two runs to take a 6-4 lead. Jayson Hernandez's sacrifice fly gave Rutgers the go-ahead lead.
Hernandez then homered to start a four-run eighth for Rutgers, while putting the game out of reach for the Knights. The home team then shut the Knights down in the ninth and took the victory, 8-2.
Senior Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) (1-2) took the loss on the hill for the Knights. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings of work. He walked three and struck out two. Kyle Bradley earned the victory for Rutgers. He limited the Knights to two earned runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings.
Kresky led the Knights' nine-hit attack by going 3-for-4, while Morrison and junior Steven LaForge (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary) each added two hits.
Rutgers collected 13 hits and Hopkins was responsible for three of them. Pat Biserta, Steve Nyisztor and Jimenez each had two hits.
The Knights return to action this weekend as they take on Garden State and NEC-rival Monmouth in a four-game series in West Long Branch, NJ. The Knights have an outside shot of making the NEC Tournament but need to sweep the Hawks and receive some help in other NEC contests this weekend. The series also marks the final regular season games for the Knights. First pitch for game one of the series is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Friday.
