EMMITSBURG, Md. – Freshman right fielder Tom Ruscitti launched his fourth home run of the season but the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team was outscored 15-7 in their series finale at Mount St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon.
 
Ruscitti, who is tied for the team lead in home runs with Salvatore Monticciolo, opened the scoring with a three-run blast in the first inning and would finished four RBIs in the game as part of a 3-for-5 effort at the dish. Fellow freshman George Rosales went 3-for-3 and classmate Nate Brodsky added two hits in the loss.
 
The Knights (3-15-1, 1-2 NEC) totaled 13 hits as a team but were unable to slow the Mountaineers (8-10, 3-3 NEC), who scored six runs in the third and seven in the fifth to take control. The home team also took advantage of five defensive miscues by the Burgundy and Blue.
 
A first-inning double by junior Mike Veit and a walk by senior Evan McDonald set the table for Ruscitti, who clubbed a two-out, three-run homer over the right-field fence.
 
Leading 3-0 in the third, FDU freshman right-hander Emmanuel Corporan surrendered six runs on four hits. Thomas Savastio provided the key blow in the inning for the Mountaineers with a bases-clearing, three-run double.
 
The Knights got a run back in the fourth when McDonald deposited an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence. The homer was McDonald's third of the season but the Mountaineers would strike back in the home half of the frame.
 
The home team registered six runs on seven hits as Pat Daly and Patrick Causa bookended the inning with solo shots. Sophomore Aaron Cohn relieved Corporan with one out in the inning and finished with eight earned runs allowed across three innings of work.
 
RBI singles by Brodsky in the sixth and Ruscitti and Monticciolo in the ninth would net the Knights' final three runs of the day.
 
The Knights return home for six straight home games beginning with Iona this Tuesday, March 26 at 3:00 p.m.