Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team fell to Bryant in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday afternoon.  The Knights (17-20, 8-9 NEC) led for the entire game after scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, but the Bulldogs (21-20, 12-5 NEC) plated four runs in the ninth inning to win the game.

The Knights scored three runs in the first inning with the first run scoring on a single by junior Joel Roman (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford) and the junior John Giakas (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) plating two runs with a base hit later in the frame.

FDU added three more runs in the fifth to jump out to a 6-0 lead.  Junior Dylan Sprague (Brunswick, N.Y./Averill Park) scored on a wild pitch, Roman drove in a run with a base hit and freshman Bobby Romano (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan )'s single up the middle plated the final run of the inning.

Bryant scored its first run in the fifth and then added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth and a single run in the seventh to make it a 6-4 game.

The Knights added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a base hit by junior Patrick McClure (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius ), but it was not enough.

With two on and two outs, Bryant's John Mullen singled up the middle to score a run and then Cole Fabio tripled in the Bulldogs sixth and seventh runs, before scoring on an error to win the game.

Roman, Romano and Giakas each had two hits for the Knights.  Roman and Giakas also both drove in two runs.

Sophomore Joe Flack (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) started for the Knights and pitched seven innings.  He allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks.  He struck out five and did not factor in the decision.

Senior Eric Snyder (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) (4-1) took the loss pitching 1.2 innings of relief.  He allowed four runs on three hits and two walks.

James Davitt (3-1) earned the victory for the Bulldogs.

The series will continue with a doubleheader on Saturday.