The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team was defeated by Maine on Sunday, 5-1, at Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City, NJ. With the game tied at one in the sixth, Maine scored four times to put the game away. With the victory, the Black Bears improve to 8-16 on the season, while the Knights fall to 4-13 overall. FDU was scheduled to take on Saint Peter's at 4:30 p.m., but the game was canceled and may be made up at a later date.
The Knights and Black Bears both failed to score a fun over the first four innings of play. However, in the top half of the fifth, Maine was able to take a 1-0 lead as a little bit of luck went against FDU. After Knights' starter, sophomore Matt Cadigan (Freehold, N.J./Freehold), struck out the first batter of the inning, he gave up single to Mike Connolly. With the next batter up, Taylor Lewis, Connolly was able to advance to second base on a balk by Cadigan. Lewis then laid down a bunt down the third base line that looked like was going foul but managed to stop rolling on the line. The next batter, Eric White, hit an infield single off a diving Cadigan's glove to drive in Connolly, giving Maine a 1-0 lead.
After the Knights got out of the top half of the fifth with no other damage, they were able to tie the score at one in the bottom half. Sophomore Jonathan Torres (Miramar, FL/Pine Crest) reached on a fielder's choice with two outs. With junior Matt Holsman (Coral Springs, FL/Stoneman Douglas) at the plate, Torres stole second to get into scoring position. Holsman then came through with an RBI single to right, scoring Torres.
In the top of the sixth, Maine scored four times to take a 5-1 lead. Back-to-back triples to start the inning by Joey Martin and Justin Leisenheimer gave the Black Bears their first run. Alex Calbick and Conolly each had RBI singles, while the final run of the inning was scored on a wild pitch coupled with an errant throw by junior JT Sherba (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton), who was trying to throw out the runner advancing to third on the wild pitch.
Neither team scored over the final three innings as Maine held on for the 5-1 victory.
Cadigan (0-3) took the loss on the hill for the Knights. He gave up four runs, all earned, on seven hits, while walking two and striking out six in 5.1 innings of work.
Stephen Perakslis picked up the victory for the Black Bears. He scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings of work, while giving up one earned run, one walk and striking out three. Jonathan Balentina pitched the final 2.0 innings to pick up the save.
Senior Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) led the Knights' nine-hit attack by going 3-for-4. He is now four hits away from becoming FDU's all-time hits leader. Junior Mike Eliasen (Swedesboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) added two hits for the Knights.
The Knights will look to open the brand-new Naimoli Family Baseball Complex when they host Manhattan on Wednesday, March 30, at 3:30 p.m in Teaneck.
