Box Score

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Fairleigh DIckinson baseball team received a three-hit day from leadoff man Matt McCann but dropped its series finale at Saint Louis University 7-5 on Sunday afternoon.

McCann went 3-for-5 with three runs and three stolen bases to pace the Knights (0-9), who fought to trim a five-run deficit down to two, but the Billikens (10-1) were able to hold on and earn the series sweep. Fellow senior Ryan Brennan knocked in three of the Knights' five runs on the day and now is tied for the team lead with seven.

The Knights captured a 1-0 lead in their first turn at bat with McCann serving as the catalyst. The senior shortstop led off the game with a single and then stole his fifth base of the season to get into scoring position. McCann's speed allowed him to move to third on a fly out before he scored on an RBI groundout by Brennan,

FDU starter Corey Zeller escaped a first-inning jam with some help from his catcher Evan McDonald, who nabbed the Billikens' Carter Hanford as he attempted to steal second for the inning's third out.

But the Billikens were able to get to Zeller in the second with Parker Sniatynski providing the blast with a two-run home run, which gave the home team the early lead.

After a pair of scoreless frames, the Knights evened the score when Brennan smacked a single through the right side, which plated McCann and made it a 2-2 game. 

The Billikens responded in the home sixth by putting up five runs on five hits highlighted by Alex King's two-run double, which provided his team a 7-2 advantage.

FDU showed resilience by countering with three runs in their next turn at bat. McCann opened the inning with a single and then stole second. After Brandon Seltzer reached via a free pass, the duo executed a successful double steal, which allowed Brennan to plate a run with a sacrifice fly. The Knights netted two more runs thanks to a double by McDonald and a run-scoring single by Owen Vonesslinger to make it a 7-5 game, 

PJ Weeks and Jake Sciarotta came on in relief of Zeller and kept the Billikens off the board with 2.1 scoreless frames, however, they were matched by three different Saint Louis relievers, who pitched three scoreless innings to close out the win.

Next up for the Knights is their 2017 home opener when they welcome Lafayette this Tuesday, March 7 at 3:00 p.m. The game marks the first of back-to-back home games for the Knights as they host NJIT on Wednesday.