Box Score TEANECK, N.J. - Two home runs from
Ryan Brennan (Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville) proved to be enough for the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team to outlast the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds, 10-6, in game one of a four-game weekend series.
Each team hit three home runs on the afternoon and the Blackbirds (14-27, 7-10 NEC) erased a 5-0 deficit before
Shane Siebler (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area)'shomer in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the game-winner and then Brennan added some insurance with a three-run shot in the eighth to finish with five RBIs.
The Knights' (15-18, 7-7) offense started well with plating runs in each of the first four innings to stake a 5-0 lead. Mark Hernandez then put the Blackbirds on the board with his fourth home run of the season in the top of the sixth to make it 5-1 Fairleigh Dickinson.
After a scoreless bottom of the sixth for the Knights, the LIU offense started clicking. The Knights' starter,
Joe Flack (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys), had given up just the lone run and just four hits through six. In the seventh though Flack walked the lead-off man, Brian Lamboy, who eventually came around to score on a single. Tom Jackubowski, who drove in Lamboy, stole second and then Flack walked Bobby Webb.
Eric Snyder (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) came on for Flack to face Hernandez. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Hernandez tied the game at five with a three-run home run to left center. After a groundout, Andrew Turner made it 6-5 LIU with a solo shot.
The Knights answered right back in the bottom half of the inning.
Jason Fatzinger (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) reached on a fielder's choice then Siebler came up and hit his second home run of the season over the left-field fence to give the Knights a 7-6 lead.
LIU Brooklyn failed to score in the top of the eighth. In the bottom half, the Knights increased the lead to 10-6 with Brennan's three-run homer to centerfield.
The Knights and Blackbirds return to the field tomorrow at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex for a double header. First pitched is scheduled for 1 p.m.
