Box Score
TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team nearly overcame a five-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth but Delaware State managed to hold on for the 8-7 victory at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Tuesday evening.
 
Despite allowing 14 walks in the contest, the Knights (9-18) nearly overtook the Hornets (12-19) and pulled out the improbable victory but DSU reliever Darrien Ragins stranded the tying run on third base to earn his sixth save of the season.
 
Senior shortstop Matt McCann tallied three of the Knights' seven hits in the game and stole his 15^th base of the season, which pulled him into a tie for third all-time in school history at 68. McCann also knocked in a pair of runs and scored once in the loss.
 
Sophomore southpaw Evan Layne started for the Knights and held a 2-1 lead after his five innings of work but the Hornets broke through against the bullpen. Layne, who earned a no decision, held the Hornets to just two hits and one unearned run on four walks, while striking out five.
 
The Hornets committed six errors, left 15 men on base and were limited to seven hits in the win, however, they took advantage of the 14 walks and a pair of errors by the Knights to manufacture their eight runs.
 
The Knights captured a 2-0 lead when McCann knocked in James Donlon and Jason Fatzinger with a third-inning single to center field.
 
Layne exited after five with a 2-1 lead as the Hornets scratched across an unearned run with a sacrifice fly.
 
In the sixth, the Hornets moved in front by scoring four runs on three hits. Left fielder Austin Bentley provided the big hit with a two-run double and his team lead 5-3 after six.
 
The Hornets added to their lead with three runs on just one hit – an RBI single by third baseman Jared Gillis, which put them ahead 8-3.
 
With one away in the bottom of the ninth, the Knights put together their rally. McCann started things with an infield single, then Bobby Romano slashed a base hit through the right side.
 
A throwing error by the Hornets allowed McCann to score from second and Romano to move to third and then a Joe O'Rourke walk loaded the bases for Hunter Reeser.
 
Reeser snuck a double inside of the third-base bag and down the left field line, which unloaded the bases and made it an 8-7 game. But Ragins closed things out by striking out Fatzinger for the game's final out as the Hornets held on for the win.
 
Reeser, who entered as a pinch-runner earlier in the game, finished 1-for-2, while Romano tallied his seventh multi-hit game with a 2-for-5 effort.
 
First baseman Evan Regez was the lone Hornet to tally two hits in the game but Teaneck, New Jersey-native Kwestin Smith reached base six times for DSU with one hit and five walks.
 
The Knights are back in action tomorrow when they welcome Saint Peter's to the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex for a 3:30 p.m. start.