TEANECK, N.J. – Propelled by two home runs from Salvatore Monticciolo and four-plus quality innings of relief from Peter Theodorellis, the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team snapped its 27-game losing streak to St. John's with a 5-4 victory at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The victory is the Knights' first over the Red Storm (24-18) since 1987 and the team's fourth victory in its last five outings.
 
In the win, Monticciolo launched his team-leading 10^th and 11^th home runs of the season, while sophomore Tony Socci delivered the go-ahead hit with a two-run single in the fifth inning.
 
Theodorellis, who entered the game in the fourth inning, provided the Knights 4.2 innings of one-run relief and held the Red Storm to four hits, while striking out a pair. With two men in scoring position and two outs in the eighth, freshman right-hander Emmanuel Corporan came on escaped the jam. Corporan would pitch a clean ninth inning to earn his first career save and secure the victory.
 
As a team, the Knights totaled 10 hits with Monticciolo, Adam Frank and Evan McDonald each finishing with two knocks.
 
Freshman right-hander Phillip Romeo started for the Knights and although he held the Red Storm to just one hit across his three innings, he handed out six walks. The Red Storm's lone hit against Romeo was a two-run home run by Sean McGeehan and the third run crossed via a bases-loaded walk.
 
Trailing 3-0 in the third, Monticciolo started the fireworks with a two-run blast, which sailed far over the right field fence.
 
Theodorellis would come on in the fourth and retired the first four Johnnies he faced.
 
Facing a 3-2 deficit in the fifth, the Knights turned the tables with two runs on three hits. After the first two batters struck out, Monticciolo drew a walk and Bobby Romano and Mike Veit each singled, which loaded the bases for Socci.
 
Socci drove the second pitch of the at bat right back up the middle and plated Monticciolo and Romano to put the Burgundy and Blue in front.
 
With Theodorellis keeping the Red Storm bats at bay, the Knights tacked on a much-needed insurance run in the seventh on Monticciolo's second long ball of the day. The Holmdel, New Jersey native greeted St. John's reliever Brian Hendry with a towering homer over the right field fence and gave the Knights the 5-3 edge.
 
Theodorellis needed just seven pitches to strike out the first two batters in the eighth by then surrendered a walk and back-to-back singles. Corporan entered and induced an inning-ending groundout to escape the jam and preserve the one-run lead.

The Knights will look to continue their momentum into the weekend as they travel to Connecticut to face off against Sacred Heart for a crucial three-game series beginning on Friday, May 3. The Knights (6-9 NEC) currently sit two wins out of the NEC postseason race as Central Connecticut, LIU, Sacred Heart and Wagner each have eight conference victories.
 
Coach McKay's Postgame Thoughts
"We played very well today as a team but Pete was the biggest Knight. He stepped up big for us and threw 4.2 innings of one-run ball. Emmanuel came in a tough spot and did a great job of shutting the door."
 
"Also, defensively, Bobby (Romano) played a really good third base for us."
 
"Offensively, Frank really set the table for us in the leadoff spot, Sal had a huge day at the plate and Tony's two-out bases-loaded hit swung the game."
 
"This is a solid win for us to carry over into an important conference series at Sacred Heart. Thank you to everyone who came out to the field and supported us today."