Box Score

TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team used a five-run eighth inning to come from behind and defeat Siena on Wednesday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.  The Knights (13-12) trailed 6-1, but chipped away at the Saints' (7-19) advantage before taking a 10-6 lead in the eighth.

Trailing 6-5, senior Dylan Sprague (Brunswick, N.Y./Averill Park) led off the eighth inning with a game tying solo home run.  Three batters later senior Patrick McClure (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius ) delivered a go-ahead base hit to score junior Matt McCann (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro ).  Freshman Evan McDonald (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm) gave the Knights extra breathing room with a two run double and the Knights tacked on a 10^th run on a Siena fielding error.

Siena scored a single run in the top of the first inning, but the Knights answered with McClure driving in a run on a single in the bottom of the first inning.

After falling behind 6-1, the Knights began to climb back into the game in the sixth inning.  McCann drove in a run on a double down the left field line and senior John Giakas (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) with a RBI single to center that score McCann to make it a 6-3 game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning sophomore Jason Fatzinger (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) launched a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 6-5.

The Knights scored nine of their 10 runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Siena scored a single run in the first and then added three more in the third inning.  They scored their final runs of the game in the fifth inning.

McCann finished the game with three hits in five at bats, including a pair of doubles.  He scored three times and drove in a run.

Giakas also collected three hits in the game.  McClure, Fatzinger and freshman Bradly Rodier all had a pair of hits in the game.  Fatzinger drove in a team-high three runs in the game with McClure and McDonald each plating a pair of runs.

As a team FDU pounded out 16 hits, while the Knight pitchers limited Siena to just six.

Freshman Evan Layne (Brooklyn, N.Y./Telecommunications) (1-0) earned the victory for the Knights by pitching the final out of the top of the eighth inning.  Freshman Chris Kachmar (East Greenville, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), freshman Corey Zeller (Carroll, Ohio/Bloom Carroll), senior Nick Cuono (Hawthorne, N.J./Montvale Saint Joseph ), Layne and freshman Tim Quinn (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) combined to pitch five scoreless innings of relief.

Chris Amorosi pitched the eighth inning and took the loss for the Saints.

The Knights return to action on Friday for the first game of a four-game Northeast Conference series with Bryant.  Fans can see Friday's game live at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex or online at NECFrontRow.com.  First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.