BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team opened its four-game series at CSU Bakersfield with a 9-4 loss on Friday night.
 
The Knights (2-3-1) held a 2-0 first-inning lead but the host Roadrunners would score four runs in the eighth to ultimately seal the series-opening win.
 
In the loss, senior Evan McDonald and freshman Salvatore Monticciolo each finished 2-for-4, while McDonald added an RBI and run scored to his ledger. Freshman shortstop, Nate Brodsky also added two knocks in his four at bats, while scoring twice and freshman Tom Ruscitti launched his first career homer in a 1-for-3 effort.
 
Sergio Robles knocked in three for the Roadrunners (6-9), while Ryan Koch went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in. CSUB starter Darius Vines (2-1) earned the victory and finished with a final line of six innings, two earned runs, five hits and 10 strikeouts.
 
Sophomore right-hander Aaron Cohn came on with two outs in the bottom of the first and provided the Burgundy and Blue with five innings of one-run ball. Cohn scattered five hits and three walks on the night.
 
The Knights kicked off their trip to the Golden State by scoring two runs off the bat of Ruscitti. The team's freshman leadoff man Brodsky opened the night with a single to right-center field and his classmate, Ruscitti immediately followed with a two-run blast – the first of his career – however, the host Roadrunners would strike back.
 
A leadoff walk followed by three singles, including RBI singles from Koch and Jake Ortega tied the game, before a bases-loaded walk to Will Picketts put the home team on top 3-2 through one inning of action. Cohn relieved Knights starter Bobby Pigozzi with two away in the first and retired the final batter. Pigozzi (0-1) was charged with the loss and three earned runs in his two-thirds of an inning.
 
Cohn and Vines both settled in with a pair of scoreless frames until the home fourth when the 'Runners netted a run on Koch's second, RBI knock of the night.
 
Trailing 5-2 in the top of the eighth, the Knights began to chip away at the deficit. With two outs and one on, McDonald delivered the first of three straight singles by the Knights and in the process, knocked home Brodsky. A Monticciolo single followed before the next man up, freshman catcher George Rosales, plated McDonald with an run-scoring base hit.
 
Now holding a one-run edge in the bottom of the eighth, the 'Runners sought breathing room and accomplished it by registering four runs on three hits, which resulted in the final score.
 
Junior right-hander Jared Prevete was charged with three earned and retired one before giving way to freshman Phillip Romeo who allowed another run prior to recording the final two outs of the frame.
 
These two teams square off for game two of the series tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. (PST).