HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team dropped the first game of their three-game series against Central Connecticut 21-7 at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Friday afternoon.
Junior catcher
Tom Ruscitti paced the Knights (2-7, 1-3 NEC) with a 2-for-4 effort, which included his second home run of the season. Ruscitti knocked in three runs on the day, while freshman shortstop
Hunter D'Amato and graduate first baseman
James Donlon added two hits apiece.
How it Happened
- The Blue Devils (6-4, 3-1 NEC) jumped out of the gate when the leadoff man Dan Covino launched the first pitch of the game from FDU starter Aaron Cohn over the right field fence. Three batters later, Buddy Dewaine hit a two-run shot as the visitors led 3-0 after one.
- Two more home runs in the next two innings contributed to the Blue Devils' output as they led 9-0 after three.
- D'Amato got the Knights on the board with an RBI double in the third, which plated classmate TJ Werner.
- In the fourth, the Knights rallied back with Ruscitti's two-run blast supplying the firepower.
- After Ruscitti homered, a double steal from Brad Levinson and Tony Socci netted another run and then D'Amato came through with another RBI double, which made it a 9-6 game.
- Unfortunately for the Knights, they were unable to quiet the hot-hitting Blue Devils, who immediately responded with a five-run frame of their own as they proceeded to pull away with the win.
Inside the Box Score
- With his two-hit performance, the freshman D'Amato extended his hit streak to seven games.
- Freshman right-hander Michael DiMartino provided the Burgundy and Blue with a pair of scoreless frames and struck out five Blue Devils along the way.
- Ruscitti's blast was his 21st as a Knight.
- Dewaine led the charge for the Blue Devils with a 3-for-5 effort and totaled six RBI.
- Dylan Sabia earned the win by pitching the final five innings for the Blue Devils and holding the Knights to one run on two hits.
Next Up
These teams conclude the series with a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. in Teaneck.