TEANECK, N.J. – Powered by five home runs – including three in the eighth inning – the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team slugged its way past Mount St. Mary's 14-8 at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Friday afternoon.

Senior Evan McDonald led the power surge with two homers on the day and finished 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. With the four runs batted in, McDonald also eclipsed the 100-RBI mark for his career.
 
Freshman Tony Socci contributed one long ball in a 2-for-3 effort, which included four RBI, three runs scored and a pair of walks, while classmate Tom Ruscitti finished 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Senior infielder Bobby Romano was responsible for the Knights' fifth and final homer of the day – a towering shot to straight-away center field – and finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
 
As a team, the Knights (4-25-1, 3-7 NEC) totaled 15 hits and netted seven earned runs against Mount St. Mary's (11-21, 5-5 NEC) starter Michael Kuypers (2-3), who entered the game with a 2.86 ERA.
 
For the Mountaineers, Thomas Savastio paced the attack with three RBI and a home run in a 2-for-5 effort, while the NEC's leading hitter, Myles Nicholson finished 4-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
Freshman Brendan Medoro (4-3) earned the win for the Knights by pitching six innings of relief. Medoro allowed five runs (four earned) and nine hits on the day.

The game started with some fireworks as Savastio launched a two-out, three-run blast to open the scoring in the top of the first.
 
The Knights answered with a three-run shot of their own in the home half of the inning as Socci stroked a two-strike pitch over the fence in left-center field.
 
The Mount would regain the lead with a run in the top of the second before the Knights broke out in the bottom of the third frame.
 
Freshman shortstop Nate Brodsky, who logged two hits in the win, opened the fifth with a double but the next two Knights were retired in order. With two outs, the Burgundy and Blue bats sprung to life as Socci singled and McDonald clobbered his first homer of the day – a three-run shot which cleared the center-field fence.
 
Romano and Brett Mercier followed with singles before pinch-hitter Salvatore Monticciolo hit a rocket off of Kuyper's leg for an RBI single. A throwing error resulted in the fifth run of the inning as the Knights established an 8-4 lead after three.
 
The scoring continued in the fourth as the Mount netted two runs on two hits and the Knights scored one on an RBI double by Ruscitti.
 
Trailing 9-6, the Mount scored one run in the fifth and one run in the seventh to pull within one of the Knights heading into the eighth.
 
Sophomore Chris Quijano kept the Mountaineers off of the board in the top of the inning before the FDU offense delivered more than enough insurance in the bottom of the frame.
 
Brodsky started the inning with a bunt single and two batters later, Ruscitti blasted a two-run home run over the right-field fence. Following a walk by Socci, McDonald stepped in and delivered an opposite-field, two-run homer.
 
The Mountaineers turned to the bullpen to face the next man up, Romano, who promptly sent a solo blast over the center-field fence for the game's final run.
 
The five home runs are the most by the Knights in a game since they matched that output back on March 8, 2017 against NJIT.
 
These two teams continue the three-game series tomorrow with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
 
Coach McKay's Postgame Comments
"Our offense had a great day and our defense played composed the entire game. Brendan came up big for us out of the bullpen. In the first, we walked two straight hitters with two outs which led to a three-run home run but Tony's answer in the bottom of the inning was huge for us"

"Tommy (Ruscitti), Bobby and Evan's homers in the eighth were there difference in the game. Evan played a complete game today with his work behind the plate and his offense and Tommy does not play like a freshman, Nate and Nate up the middle were solid and Quijano pitched his way out of a tough eighth inning before Joe came in and shut the door."

"It was a good day for a lot of guys and we're ready for game two. We hope to see all our fans and supporters there."