TEANECK, N.J. -The Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team (22-28, 14-11 NEC) built its way to a 12-5 victory over Sacred Heart (12-39, 9-16 NEC) on Thursday afternoon at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex. With the win, the Knights secured a berth in next week's Northeast Conference Tournament.
How it happened
- SHU opened the scoring with a run in the first inning.
- The Knights responded with a run in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1. David Bordieri Jr. reached home on an RBI triple to the right line by Justin Sierra.
- SHU retook the lead in the top of the third with a solo home run and a run scored on a fielder's choice.
- In the bottom of the third, George Rosales scored on an RBI single to left field by Bordieri.
- The Pioneers extended their lead with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to make it 2-4.
- The Knights took the lead after scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sierra scored on an error by the third baseman. Hunter D'Amato struck out swinging and reached first on a passed ball; then Rosales and Tom Ruscitti scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
- FDU registered three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 8-4.
- The Pioneers hit another solo home run to center field in the top of the seventh.
- The Knights extended their lead to 10-5 with TJ Werner's two-RBI double down the left-field line. Werner scored on an RBI single up the middle by Brelon Harden; then Zack Will's RBI triple to right field allowed Harden to score.
- FDU finished the game with 12 runs and 12 hits.
Inside the box
- Jake Simon earned his fourth win by going 3.1 innings, striking out four, and allowing only one run.
- Sierra went 4-6 with two RBIs, one double, one triple, and four stolen bases.
- Ruscitti went 2-3 with one RBI, two runs, one walk, and a stolen base.
- Harden finished 2-5 with two runs and two RBIs.
Next Up
FDU is back on Friday, May 20, to take on the Sacred Heart Pioneers in game two of the series at 1 p.m.
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