TEANECK, N.J. – A first-inning explosion fueled the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team to a 13-1, season-opening victory over Saint Peter's at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
The Knights (1-0) plated 10 runs in the first frame and cruised past the Peacocks (0-4) to give first-year head coach
Rob DiToma a comfortable win in his debut.
Watch: Coach DiToma Postgame
Last season's Northeast Conference home run champion,
Tom Ruscitti spearheaded the attack by supplying a pair of two-run blasts as part of a 3-for-4 effort. The sophomore third baseman knocked in four and totaled three runs, while classmate
Nate Brodsky finished 3-for-5 with two stolen bases and also scored three times.
In addition, senior captain
James Donlon racked up four RBI in a 1-for-3 effort and sophomore right-hander
Joey Kosowsky earned the win by pitching three scoreless frames and notching four strikeouts.
After a walk by
Mike Veit, a single by Brodsky and a walk by Ruscitti loaded the bases, the Peacocks went to their bullpen. Donlon greeted the new pitcher, Joe Albunia by ripping a bases-clearing double down the right field line.
A two-out error extended the inning for sophomore
Brad Levinson, who doubled down the left field line before freshman
Justin Sierra came through with a two-run single in his first collegiate at bat.
Veit followed with a run-scoring bunt single, Brodsky notched an RBI double and then Ruscitti came to the plate. Facing a 1-2 count, Ruscitti clobbered a two-run homer over the right field fence, which capped the 10-run first.
The Knights scored again in the third when Donlon drew a bases-loaded walk. Leading 11-1 in the fifth, Ruscitti launched his second blast of the day – a line-drive, two-run shot, which left the park in a hurry and resulted in the final runs of the game.
Six pitchers appeared in the opener for the Burgundy and Blue. Sophomore
Bobby Pigozzi pitched two frames and allowed a run before
Phillip Romeo,
Jesse Bloom,
Chris Quijano and
Tristan Plescia each provided a scoreless inning of work.
The Knights hit the road for their next six games beginning this Saturday, February 22 with a doubleheader at William & Mary. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Williamsburg, Va.
Paul Miller Auto Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2020 FDU baseball season.
