TEANECK, N.J. - FDU Baseball (21-11, 15-2 NEC) used a walk off home run from
Hunter Ray to get past the Stonehill Skyhawks (12-17, 10-4 NEC) on Saturday afternoon in a back-and-forth battle at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
Stonehill was once again the first to the scoreboard as the Skyhawks got on the board in the opening inning with an RBI double against FDU starter
Jeremy Cheeseman. The Knights would punch back in the second inning, as
Nick Quagliato tied the game with a run scoring single through the right side which scored
Jimmy Mantuano. Two batters later,
Travis Stroh continued his tear at the plate for FDU, doubling home two more runs to make the score 3-1 FDU after two innings.
The score would stay that way until the sixth inning, when the Skyhawks tied the game on Cheeseman, as Jamison Howland doubled down the right field line, tieing the game for Stonehill. Once again, the Knights were quick to answer, as Quagliato gave the Knights the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as he scored Mantuano once again on a sacrifice fly.
Brady Fandl also added a SAC fly behind Quagliato, extending the FDU led back out to a pair of runs.
Stonehill had to wait until Cheeseman exited the game, and then got to FDU reliever
Chris Mattioli with a two run double that once again tied the game in the eighth inning. The game would stay knotted at 5 until the bottom of the tenth inning, thanks to a great appearance out of the bullpen for Knights reliever
Nick Noble.
Hunter Ray started the tenth inning for the Knights, as FDU was just looking for a single run to win the ballgame. Ray got out to a hitters count and crushed a 3-1 fastball over the center field wall for his 15th home run of the season, none bigger than that one, as the Knights won their 15th NEC ballgame, and their 21st of the season.
FDU and Stonehill will meet tomorrow for the final game of the three game set at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be streamed on NEC Front Row.
Connect with the Knights on NEC Front Row by following @FDUKnightsBase on Instagram and X.
