TEANECK, N.J. – In a back and forth affair, the Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team collected a 12-11 home victory over Iona on Wednesday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex. Sophomore Tom Ruscitti and junior Tom Socci each belted a pair of home runs for the Burgundy and Blue.

With the Knights up 12-8 entering the top of the ninth, Iona got a pair of runners on base off a single and a walk to start the inning. Freshman Owen Christy walked up to the plate and belted a three-run homer to get the Gaels within a run of the lead. After a double from sophomore Will Jennings, FDU junior Jesse Bloom was able to get freshman Julian Thompson to strike out looking to end the contest.

FDU recorded 14 hits and Iona collected 11 hits. Kosowsky earned his second win of the season after going 2.2 innings and struck out five batters. The Knights struck out a total of eight batters in the game. Junior Jesse Bloom recorded his first save of the season in the win. Senior Chris Dodrill of the Gaels was tagged with the loss. Ruscitti and Socci combined to drive in eight runs for the Knights.

The Knights (2-6) set down the Gaels in order in the top of the first as sophomore Joey Kozowsky struck out two batters and forced a pop up to second base. FDU took an early lead as Ruscitti belted his third home run of the season over the right field fence to gain a 1-0 advantage.

After another perfect inning from Kozowsky, the Burgundy and Blue extended that lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Socci went deep to left center and brought home sophomore Kyle Huber. Sophomore George Rosales then doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a groundout by senior Mike Veit. Rosales would make it home and give FDU a 4-0 advantage after sophomore Nate Brodsky hustled down the first base line for an infield single.

The Gaels (3-8) got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when senior Brian Picone dropped a ball into right field and sophomore Luca Lotito scored to cut the deficit to 4-1. Iona then capitalized and cut the Knights lead in half with a double off the bat of sophomore Jake Field that scored sophomore Jake Liberatore and Picone tried to score, but Ruscitti threw the ball in from right that was cut off by sophomore Brendan Medoro and flipped to Rosales to tag out Picone.

The Knights bats continued to produce runs in the bottom of the third when Huber drove home a pair of runs with a double into center that scored senior captain James Donlon and Ruscitti to take a 6-2 edge. After retiring the Gaels in order in the top of the fourth, FDU responded with another run as Donlon singled to center and brought home Veit.

The Burgundy and Blue produced their highest scoring inning in the bottom of the fifth as they put five more runs on the board to gain a 12-2 advantage. Socci belted his second homer of the afternoon after Huber drew a walk and Ruscitti also connected on his second home run of the contest that brought in Veit and Rosales.

Iona cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth when Jennings delivered a bases clearing double to right field and collected three RBI's. Jennings however was left on second base as Medoro was able to strike out Lotito.

In the top of the seventh, the Gaels loaded the bases and got within five runs as junior Sam Punzi connected on a single to right field and scored Picone. Iona then pinch-hitter Christy also singled to right field and drove in Becker in what was now a 12-8 contest.

Each team was set down 1-2-3 in the eighth inning. The Gaels then got to within a run in the ninth inning as the Knights earned their second home win of the season.

FDU will hit the road for a three-game stretch beginning Friday when they travel to UMBC with a 3 p.m. start time. The Knights will conclude the weekend with games in Annapolis, Md. against Navy on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Penn State on Sunday at 12 p.m.