Teaneck, N.J.- FDU took on Albany in a Sunday doubleheader that concluded a three-game series between the teams. The Knights were able to knock off the Great Danes by a score of 8-3 in game one. Game two was called in a 12-12 tie after the 10
th inning due to darkness. Overall, FDU took home a 2-0-1 record on the weekend
Rich Racobaldo took the mound for the Knights to start game one. He gave the Knights another strong performance, going five innings and allowing just three hits and two earned runs. Despite this, the Knights still trailed 2-1 entering their half of the fifth.
Justin Sierra kick started the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to tie things up.
Tom Ruscitti,
Hunter D'Amato, and
Tommy Verga added RBI singles to give FDU a 5-2 lead before the inning ended.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Knights offense struck again.
Tom Ruscitti hit a two-run bomb that scored
Joan Sosa and gave FDU a 7-2 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, T.J. Werner grounded into a double play that plated
George Rosales. This insurance run made it 8-2 entering the eighth inning.
Nicholas Feretic and
Shane Sax were the relievers that FDU utilized to close out the game. They threw a combined four innings, allowing just one hit and one run, while striking out two. Sax closed it out in the ninth to seal the victory.
Freshman
Jeremy Cheeseman was the starting pitcher for FDU in game two. The Great Danes got to him early with a two-run homerun courtesy of Dan Tauken. The Knights immediately cut back into the lead in their half of the inning with a
Hunter D'Amato RBI single. The score held at 2-1 until the third inning when Albany's Will Feil blasted another two-run homerun that made the score 4-1. The Knights did cut this lead down to 4-3 but Albany continued their strong offensive production. They eventually led 8-3.
Anthony Chiapetta put the Knights on the comeback trail in the eighth inning. His first career hit came by way of a three-run homerun that cut the lead to two. Still trailing 8-6 with two outs in the ninth,
Brian Sanders came to the plate as the Knights' last hope. He connected on a two-run shot that tied the game at eight and sent it into extra innings.
Grant Goodlad was strong out of the pen for the Knights delivering two scoreless innings before the Great Danes tabbed him for four runs in the tenth inning. Goodlad did complete three innings allowing three hits and four earned runs. He left the mound after the top of the 10
th with his team trailing 12-8.
Three hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for FDU in the bottom of the 10
th with just one out.
Justin Sierra placed a single into the outfield which resulted in two runs scoring.
Tom Ruscitti then drew a walk which plated another run and moved the tying run to third base. With the score 12-11,
Brian Sanders tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Anthony Chiapetta struck out to end the inning.
After this, the game was called due to darkness. The result is a 12-12 tie.
The Knights continue their home stand with a midweek matchup against Rider at 2:30pm next Wednesday, March 8, in Teaneck. Stream the game on NEC Front Row.
