BALTIMORE, Md. – Behind seven scoreless innings from junior right-hander
Aaron Cohn, the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team defeated UMBC 3-1 at Alumni Field on Friday afternoon.
Cohn (1-1) scattered five hits and issued one free pass, while striking out four to earn his first win of the campaign and the second-consecutive victory for the Knights (3-6).
The Tampa native was aided by his slugging right fielder, sophomore
Tom Ruscitti, who launched his team-leading fifth home run of the season. Ruscitti, who homered twice in the team's win over Iona on Wednesday, is off to a great start in defending his Northeast Conference home run title.
After Cohn escaped the first inning with a double play and stranded the leadoff man in the second, the Knights broke into the scoring column in the top of the third. Ruscitti stepped in with two away and drove a solo blast over the center field fence to give the Burgundy and Blue a 1-0 edge.
In the fourth, sophomore third baseman
Michael Gruber registered a one-out single and moved into scoring position after the next batter, freshman
Jake Ellowitz reached on a walk. With two outs, the Knights' leadoff man,
Nate Brodsky knocked in Gruber with a base hit to left. Brodsky would finish 2-for-5 on the day.
Cohn went back to work in the bottom of the inning and induced three groundouts. In the top of the fifth, the Knights netted their final run of the contest when Ruscitti, who had reached via a leadoff single, scored on from third on a passed ball.
The three runs were more than enough support for Cohn, who allowed one baserunner over the next three innings before leaving due to an eighth-inning rain delay.
Sophomore right-hander
Brendan Medoro came on in relief to earn his first save of the season by pitching the final two innings, allowing an unearned run and striking out a pair.
Senior captain
James Donlon joined Brodsky, Gruber and Ruscitti in tallying two hits in the win.
The Knights continue their weekend down in Maryland on Saturday when they travel to Annapolis to face Navy at 1:00 p.m.
Paul Miller Auto Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2020 FDU baseball season.
