Box Score

TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team received a gutsy complete-game performance from right-hander Joe Flack but dropped the final game of its series with Bryant 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
 
Flack weathered the blustery conditions, which featured wind gusts north of 20 mph, to keep the high-scoring Bulldogs offense in check across his nine innings of work. The veteran right-hander threw 115 pitches in the contest, racking up seven strikeouts, while allowing three earned runs and eight hits.
 
Offensively, senior Jason Fatzinger and sophomore Mike Veit each went 2-for-4 as the Knights out-hit the Bulldogs 9-8 in the loss.
 
Second baseman Ryan Ward and first baseman Chris Wright paced the Bryant offense by each recording two hits.
 
After allowing the first two Bulldogs to reach with a double and hit by pitch, Flack induced a groundout, which netted the first run of the game. Next, freshman shortstop Oliver Tavares cut down the runner from third by charging a ground ball and firing home to catcher Evan McDonald, who applied the tag for the second out before Flack earned an inning-ending fly out to keep the score at 1-0.
 
The Knights would tie the game with a run in the home first. Veit delivered a one-out double and then stole third base. With two away, Fatzinger came through with a double to left center field, which plated Veit as the Knights' first run.
 
Flack settled in and matched Bryant starter Jack Patterson over the next four frames as the game remained knotted at one. But in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs moved in front again.
 
Malik Daley laid down a bunt single and thanks to an errant throw by the Knights, advanced all the way to third base. The next batter, Wright lofted an opposite-field shot toward the left-field line, which hooked away from Veit and dropped in for an RBI double.
 
With two away, Bryant designated hitter Gaby Cruz singled home Wright with a base hit to left and gave his team a 3-1 edge.
 
In the seventh, the Knights fought back against Patterson. With one out, Fatzinger, Tavares and pinch-hitter James Donlon all singled, which loaded the bases for right fielder Brad Levinson. Levinson fought off a one-two pitch back up the middle, which knocked in Fatzinger and made it a 3-2 game.
 
Despite the four hits in the inning, the Knights were unable to score again as Patterson retired the next two hitters in order and preserved the one-run lead.
 
With Flack holding down the Bryant bats, the Knights had quality chances to tie in both the eighth and ninth innings.
 
In the home eighth, Veit reached on an error and Evan McDonald followed with a single to left. Bryant reliever Matthew Stansky struck out the next batter before the Bulldogs brought in closer Nathan Wrighter, who forced an inning-ending groundout by Tavares.
 
Then in the ninth, Donlon drew a leadoff walk and pinch-runner Connor Stanton stole second base with one out. But Wrighter buckled down and retired Peter Theodorellis and Evan Raiburn to end the ball game and net his second save of the series and sixth of the season.
 
Flack's (1-3) seven punch-outs are a career-high for the redshirt-senior, while Patterson (3-2) also struck out a career-high 11 Knights in the win.
 
The Knights are back in action this Tuesday, April 17 when they welcome Albany for a non-conference game. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. in Teaneck.