TEANECK, N.J. – Behind 21 hits and five home runs, the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team powered its way to a 17-2 victory over LIU Brooklyn at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Friday afternoon.
Redshirt senior
Bobby Romano was at the forefront of the offensive explosion as he launched two home runs and finished 5-for-6 with four runs scored and three RBI in the victory. In addition, the Philadelphia product picked up career RBI No. 100, joining fellow senior
Evan McDonald, who accomplished the feat last week.
Adam Frank plated a career-high four runs as part of a 4-for-6 effort and launched his first career home run, while McDonald and
Nate Brodsky each finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI. Brodsky and sophomore
Mike Veit were responsible for the Knights' other two long balls in the win.
Not to be outdone, sophomore right-hander
Aaron Cohn turned in his best performance on the mound this season. Cohn (2-1), pitched seven innings and held the Blackbirds (14-21, 6-8 NEC) to just one run on four hits.
After allowing a first-inning sacrifice fly, Cohn settled in and his offense provided more than enough run support.
The Knights tied the game in the home first on an RBI single by McDonald and nabbed a 2-1 lead after
Brett Mercier notched an run-scoring single in the second.
Romano clubbed his first blast of the day – a two-run shot – over the left-center field fence to extend the Knights' lead to 4-1. The Burgundy and Blue bats continued to add on in the fifth thanks to RBI singles by Veit and
Nate Rush. Rush's knock came on a textbook inside-out swing as the left-handed hitter stroked the ball between the LIU shortstop and third baseman for a base hit.
The Knights proceeded to break the game open with a monster seventh inning, which featured 10 runs on six hits and three consecutive home runs. All 10 runs came with two away in the frame.
Frank led off with a single and moved over to third after a Romano double. Brodsky singled in the first run. McDonald drew a bases-loaded walk and then the fireworks began. In his second plate appearance of the inning, Frank stepped in with the bases loaded and uncorked a grand slam for his first long ball as a Knight.
After an LIU pitching change, the next man up Veit smacked a solo shot to center field. Then, Romano completed the back-to-back-to-back home runs with a solo shot, which established a 16-1 FDU lead.
The Knights' final tally of the day came on their final long ball of the day as Brodsky finished his stellar afternoon with a solo home run to left field in the eighth inning.
With their five home runs on the day, the Knights now have 38 on the season which is their highest season total since 2016.
These two teams square off in the rubber game of the series tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m. at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
Coach McKay's Postgame Comments
"The offense will rightfully so get all of the love today but Aaron was today's best Knight. In our biggest game of the season, he was in command from start to finish with one walk in seven innings serving as the key to his success."
"We had a good offensive day and ran the bases much better. Defensively, Tommy made a highlight-reel catch in the right-center field gap, which helped stop a big inning."
"Bobby's first home run in the third and Mike's key two-out RBI in the fifth were turning points for us. LIU is the defending champion and a very well-coached group. I have no doubt that they will be back ready to battle tomorrow. We hope to see everyone out at Naimoli tomorrow afternoon."
