TEANECK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team will open up its 2018 home slate on Tuesday afternoon, hosting the Leopards of Lafayette at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex at 2:45 p.m. Freshman Austin Crebs will get the call from head coach Gary Puccio to start the game.
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights dropped a close game to Lipscomb on February 25, 3-1. In the game, a trio of FDU pitchers kept the Bison off balance, only allowing seven hits in eight innings. Corey Zeller got the nod and contributed four innings for his team, while Evan Raiburn and Austin Crebs combined to throw four shutout innings for the Knights. At the plate, Owen VonEsslinger and Jason Fatzinger tallied two hits apiece to carry the Knights. Bobby Romano knocked in the Knights' only run of the game, with a single up the middle in the first-inning.
EARLY SURGE
VonEsslinger and Fatzinger pace the team with six and hits five hits respectively. Both have recorded three RBI's throughout FDU's first three games. Evan McDonald leads the team with five RBI's, while Brandon Seltzer has been the spark plug for the Knights, registering four runs scored.
GAINING EXPERIENCE
The Knights had a total of 11 players record an appearance through three games. The starters, Trent Valentine, Corey Zeller, and Aaron Cohn looked to gain valuable experience down south. Valentine did not give up an earned run in three innings of work, Zeller capped the Knights working four innings, and Cohn struck out three batters in two innings of work. Coming out of the bullpen, Austin Crebs pitched in two games, only allowing two hits in 4.1 IP.
SCOUTING LAFAYTTE
The Leopards come to Teaneck with a 5-6 record. Recording wins against Davidson, Rider, and Maryland Eastern Shore. Steven Cohen and John Marti pace the Leopards with 15 runs scored combined. Luke Robinson has earned a .278 batting average, with 10 hits. A total of 14 pitchers have recorded an out for Lafayette, throughout their 11 games, the Leopards pitching staff has earned a 5.38 ERA.
NEXT UP
The Knights will host The Red Storm of St. John's on Wednesday, and then travel to Delaware to face the Hornets of Delaware State for three-game series starting on Friday.
