The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team dropped the final game of its four-game NEC series Sunday afternoon versus Wagner, 7-1, at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island, NY. The loss snaps the Knights' season-high four-game win streak. With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 18-29 (12-16 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 12-33 (9-19 NEC) overall.
The home team struck for two quick runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. Seth Boyd's groundball to shortstop with one out scored Joe Conforti. On the play, the Knights' infield was playing back to concede the run, but junior Ryan Kresky (Freehold, NJ/Freehold)'s miscue allowed Boyd to reach first base. After Boyd stole second with two men down in the inning, Ian Miller singled to left field to score Boyd for the second run of the frame.
In the top of the third, the Knights were able to get one run back to cut the lead to 2-1. After the first two men of the inning were retired, Kresky continued to stay hot at the plate as he singled up the middle. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior Steven LaForge (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary) then singled through the left side to put runners on the corners. Senior Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) delivered the third-straight single of the inning as he ripped an RBI hit off the first baseman to score Kresky and advance LaForge to third, but both runners were left stranded.
After both teams failed to score over the middle three innings, Wagner exploded for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a commanding 7-1 lead. The Seahawks loaded the bases with nobody out. Conforti knocked in the first run with an RBI sacrifice fly to center. Eddie Brown and Ian Vazquez followed with one-out RBI singles to drive in the second and third runs. The fourth run scored on Kevin McDonnell's RBI sacrifice fly to center, while the final run of the rally was scored on Miller's bloop RBI single down the left-field line.
That was all Wagner would need as they were able to salvage the final game of the series, 7-1.
Junior Mike Eliasen (Swedesboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) (2-3) was charged with the loss on the hill for the Knights despite a respectable performance. The tri-captain went 6.1 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on nine hits, while walking two and striking out three. At one point he retired 11-straight batters. Sophomore Craig Warner (Coral Springs, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits.
Jon Lucas was dominant on the mound for Wagner as he struck out nine and did not walk a batter in 8.1 innings of work, while scattering six hits and allowing one earned run. LaForge was the only Knight to collect two hits on the day.
"Overall, it was a great weekend," said Head Coach Gary Puccio. "We are improving and took a big step in the right direction. Today we were down 2-1 in the seventh, and one bad inning was the difference. We have done well in limiting the bad innings of late, and I look for that trend to continue."
The Knights will return to action on Wednesday, May 11, when they host Hartford in their final non-conference game of the season. First-pitch at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex in Teaneck is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
