TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team suffered a 10-2 setback in their series opener against Wagner on Thursday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
 
With the loss, the Knights (15-35-1, 9-13 NEC) are now part of a three-way tie with LIU Brooklyn and Wagner (16-30, 9-13 NEC) in the NEC standings with all three teams trailing Sacred Heart by one game.
 
The Knights tallied 10 hits in the loss but stranded eight men aboard and surrendered three home runs to the Seahawk offense.
 
Freshman first baseman Salvatore Monticciolo paced the Knights with a 3-for-4 effort, which included his 13^th home run of the season. Monticciolo, who is now tied with teammate Tom Ruscitti for the NEC home run lead, totaled two RBI on the day. Nate Brodsky and Mike Veit were the lone other Knights to log multi-hit performances finishing 2-for-5 and 2-for-4, respectively.
 
Tyler Sanfilippo and Freddy Sabido spearheaded the Wagner attack with a combined five RBI. Sanfilippo finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Sabido went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
 
After a pair of scoreless frames, the Seahawks broke into the scoring column against FDU starter Aaron Cohn with a four-run third inning. All four runs scored with two outs including a two-run blast by Sabido. Cohn (4-3) lasted five innings allowing seven earned runs on seven hits, while striking out a pair.
 
In the fifth, a solo shot by Joe Silverstrone and a two-run shot by Griffin Schneider extended the lead to 7-0. Those three tallies also came with two away in the inning.
 
Monticciolo was responsible for the Knights' two runs as clubbed his 13^th homer of the season over the fence in right centerfield in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Seahawks would tack on one in the seventh and two in the eighth to finalize the 10-2 win. Justin Beyer (3-3) earned the win for Wagner by tossing 6.2 innings and allowing two earned on eight hits.
 
These two teams square off again tomorrow with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.

Coach McKay's Postgame Thoughts
"Wagner pitched well, played well and got big hits from their big players when they needed it. Offensively, we will need to make adjustments and take what is given by a solid pitching staff over the two remaining games. Our young defense must tighten up to minimize our pitch counts. The guys are excited to get back out there tomorrow, it will be a big day."