Box Score


TEANECK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team earned a Northeast Conference Tournament berth with a comeback victory against Mount St. Mary's on Sunday.  Junior Logan Frati (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport/South Manor) tossed a complete game and shut out the Mountaineers (12-31, 11-14 NEC) over the final eight innings as the Knights (20-24, 11-13 NEC) won 8-4.  Junior Patrick McClure (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius ) connected on a go ahead home run in fifth inning to give FDU a 5-4 lead.

"They never quit," head coach Gary Puccio said after the game.  "This team never quit.  They didn't quit when they fell behind 4-0 today, just like they didn't quit when they started the conference season 1-6.  I am really proud of the way this team competes."

The Mountaineers scored four runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early 4-0 lead, but Frati settled in after the rocky first and held Mount off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.

Frati pitched nine innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.  After the first inning, he scattered four hits and did not allow a run.  He finished the game with six strikeouts and just one walk allowed.

The Knights' offense began to climb back into the game in the second inning.  McClure walked and junior John Giakas (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) singled to open the frame with McCLure eventually scoring on an RBI ground out by freshman Jason Fatzinger (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus).

FDU tied it in the third inning as junior Ryan Brennan (Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville) drove a double to right center to plate two runs, cutting the deficit to 4-3.  After a single by McClure sent Brennan to third, Giakas hit a ground ball to third base to score McClure and tie the game.

In the fifth, McClure gave the Knights the lead for good with a solo home run to left center.  Brennan would hit a bases clearing three-run double in the eighth to give FDU breathing room heading into ninth.

Brennan finished the day with two hits, both doubles, and five runs batted in.  McClure also had two hits in the game.  His home run was his fourth of the season.  Brennan finishes the regular season with 15 doubles, which is tied for fifth most in a single-season in program history.

Frati improves to 4-6 on the season with the victory.  Jordan Lawson of Mount falls to 5-4 on the season with the loss.

"Logan Frati (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport/South Manor) was outstanding on the mound," Puccio added.  "He fell behind, but he composed himself and gave us a tremendous performance.  Offensively, Ryan Brennan (Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville) delivered two huge doubles to score five runs and Pat McClure came through with a home run at a big moment."

Prior to the game the Knights honored eight graduating seniors: Joe Borelli (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan ), Riley Moonan (Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero North), Eric Snyder (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh), Ryan McGrath (Lansingburgh, N.Y./Lansingburgh), Jack Loftus (Dumore, Pa./Dunmore), Yonah Perline (Dix Hills, N.Y./St. Dominic), Anthony Calise (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and Corbin Gapski (Clay, N.Y.).

The Knights will play Bryant on Thursday in the first round of the Northeast Conference Tournament.  The tournament is a four team double elimination event and will be played at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT.