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NEC Release

The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team saw its season come to an abrupt end Saturday afternoon as they fell in 11 innings to Monmouth, 5-3, in an NEC Tournament elimination game at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT.  With the victory, the Hawks improve to 35-23 on the season, while the Knights finish their year with an overall record of 25-28-1.

With the game tied at three in the top of the 11th, Monmouth scored twice to take the lead for good.  Ed Martin doubled off freshman #Eric Snyder# to start the inning and moved to third on Josh Boyd's sacrifice bunt.  Jake Gronsky then hit the first pitch past the drawn-in infield to give the Hawks a 4-3 advantage. 

Another first-pitch single from Chris Perret put runners on the corners, and Jamie Rozenkranz made it 5-3 with a RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

Senior #Matt Holsman# singled with one out in the bottom of the 11th, but the season came to an end when freshman #Jordan Ritz# grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

Out of the gate, Monmouth scored two runs in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead.  Junior starter #Craig Warner# plunked Martin to lead off the game, and Boyd followed with a double to left field, putting runners on second and third.  A RBI groundout to second base by Perret scored the first run, and Rosenkranz drove home the second run with a sacrifice fly to foul territory in right field.

The Knights looked primed for a nice inning in the bottom of the second as junior #Eric Anderson# and senior co-captain #Mike Eliasen# collected back-to-back singles to start the inning, but the rally was killed after a fly out and an inning-ending double play.

Warner stranded Boyd, who singled to start the inning, at third base to end the top of the third.

FDU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs to tie the game at two.  With one out, junior #Kyle Weeks# singled up the middle and moved to second on Anderson's rocket back to the pitcher.  Eliasen then drove home Weeks for the first run with a two-out RBI single up the middle to make it 2-1.

The Knights were not done as freshman #Riley Moonan# followed with a single down the right-field line, advancing Eliasen to second base.  Freshman #Pat McClure# promptly tied the game at two with a RBI single through the left side to score Eliasen.

Monmouth took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on Danny Avella's one-out RBI double. 

One inning later in the bottom of the seventh, FDU came back to tie the game at three.  Ritz doubled with one out to right field, and Weeks drove him home as he delivered a clutch RBI single up the middle with two outs.

The Hawks made things interesting in the ninth as they loaded the bases with two outs against Snyder, who started the inning on the bump, but Avella lined out to the warning track in center field as Moonan made a nice catch.  The Knights were retired 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the frame.

Snyder retired Monmouth in order in the top of the 10th.  With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Anderson just missed ending it as he doubled off the base of the wall in right field.  After freshman #Mike Hewson# came in as a pinch runner, the Hawks elected to intentionally walk Eliasen.  Moonan then moved the runners up a base, putting Hewson 90 feet away from ending the game. 

On a 2-1 pitch, McClure ripped a ball to the gap in left-center field, but the ball hung up just enough for the center fielder to make the inning-ending grab, setting up Monmouth's two-run 12th inning.

Warner was great on the mound in his sixth quality start of the season.  The righty allowed three earned runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out two in 6.2 innings of work.  Freshman #Anthony Calise# got the final out of the seventh inning, and fellow classmate #Yonah Perline# pitched a scoreless eighth.

Snyder (2-1) was charged with the loss as he pitched a season-high 3.0 innings in which he allowed two earned runs on four hits.

The Hawks' Joe Loiodice earned the victory as he yielded only two hits over the final 3.1 innings.  Starter Dan Smith was touched for 13 hits by the Knights as he allowed three earned runs in 7.2 innings.  The southpaw did not issue a walk and struck out one.

The two teams combined to leave 24 runners on base with the Knights stranding 11.

Eight of the nine Knights' starters on the day collected at least one hit with six collecting at least two.  Ritz led FDU's 15-hit attack by going 3-for-6 with a double and a run scored.  Weeks, Anderson, Eliasen, Moonan and McClure each collected two hits.

Monmouth pounded out 11 safeties and was led by Boyd and Perret's three hits.  Gronsky added two hits, a RBI and a run scored, while Rosenkranz drove home a pair and scored a run.

“I thought we played a fantastic game today as did Monmouth,” Head Coach #Gary Puccio# said.  “It was just an outstanding playoff baseball game and someone had to lose.  We definitely had our chances but came up a little short.”

“However, I wouldn't trade this season for any other season I have had in the past,” added Puccio.  This was a special team with great chemistry, and the level of achievement they reached is classified as a historic season.”

Eliasen and Ritz were both named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts in the three games.