Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team split a doubleheader with UMass Lowell on Sunday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.  The Knights dropped the first game 6-4 and won the second 5-1.  Both the Knights and the River Hawks are both 3-6 overall on the season after the split.

Junior Dylan Sprague (Brunswick, N.Y./Averill Park) reached base five times and score three runs to lead the FDU offense on the day.  On the mound junior Ryan McGrath (Lansingburgh, N.Y./Lansingburgh) picked up his second victory of the season in game two.

"We still have to work on our execution," head coach Gary Puccio said after the game.  "Not handling the comebacker in the first game hurt us and we also failed to get a sacrifice bunt down that was costly.  In the second game, McGrath was great.  He continues to pitch well and he especially keeps stepping up when we really need him.  Offensively, it was nice to get a run in the first and three more in the third to get ahead and finally give us the chance to play with a lead."

GAME ONE

The Knights allowed UMass Lowell to score four runs in the top of the first inning, but after the rough start senior Joe Borelli (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan ) settled in and completed seven innings.  He allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits.

The FDU offense posted a three-run third inning to tighten up the score, but UMass Lowell added insurance runs in the seventh and the top of the ninth to take a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth the Knights loaded the bases with one out and junior John Giakas (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) plated a run with an RBI ground out.  However, FDU was unable to score again and the tying runs were stranded at second and third to end the game.

The FDU offense recorded just four hits in the game with sophomore Matt McCann (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro ), Sprague, senior Riley Moonan (Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero North) and freshman Bobby Romano (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan ) each collecting one.
Borelli falls to 0-2 with the loss.  UML's Nick Kuzia (1-1) earned the victory with 4.1 innings of solid relief and Ian Strom picked up the save.

GAME TWO

The Knights used small ball and capitalized on a UML throwing error to jump out to a 1-0 lead in game two.  FDU opened the bottom of the first with McCann and Sprague reaching base, junior Ryan Brennan (Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville) sacrificed the runners ahead to setup second and third with one out.  After junior Patrick McClure (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius ) walked to load the bases, freshman Jason Fatzinger (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) came to the plate.  Fatzinger bounced back to the mound with the pitcher flipping home for the force out, the catcher pivoted and threw to first to attempt the double play, but the throw sailed into right field allowing, Sprague to come around and score from second.

In the third inning, Sprague singled to open the frame and then scored as the next batter, Brennan, drove a double into the right centerfield gap.  Two batters later, Moonan doubled to right to drive in Brennan and finally, Moonan was sent home on an RBI single by Chris Grupp (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands College Park).

The Knights tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with Brennan doubling to drive in Romano who was hit by a pitch to open the inning.

The River Hawks lone run of the game came in the fifth inning as UML's Joe Consolmagno walked, advanced to second on a ground out, stole third and then scored on a passed ball.

McGrath (2-1) pitched 5.1 innings to earn the victory.  He allowed just three hits and walked only two batters, while striking out seven.  He allowed just one unearned run in the game.

Senior Eric Snyder (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) earned the save by pitching the final 1.2 innings.  He entered the game with two on and one out in the sixth inning and worked out of the jam without allowing either runner to score.  He also loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but again worked out of trouble to pitch a scoreless frame.

Brennan was two-for-three in the second game and drove in a pair of runs.   Sprague and Moonan also finished with two hits as the Knights connected for nine hits over their six half-innings at the plate.

The Knights will return to action on Tuesday, March 17 against St. Peter's.