The Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball team made its 2008 debut with a 15-2 drubbing of home-standing Coppin State University, followed by an 8-3 loss against St. Peter's College in the nightcap, Saturday March 1 in Baltimore, MD.
Head Coach Jerry DeFabbia's hitters tuned-up the Eagles' (0-4) pitching staff for seven runs over the first three innings, as four Knights recorded multi-hit efforts. Junior outfielder Jeff Vincent (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) ripped a career-high four hits, while counterpart Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) drove in four runs off three hits. Freshman first baseman Brian Dillon (Sarasota, FL/Cardinal Mooney) and junior outfielder Brett Lazar (Commack, NY/Commack) registered three-hit games. Junior infielder Zachary Sand (San Diego, CA/Mission Bay) drove in two runs and reached base on three occasions.
Vincent began the afternoon with a base knock to left field, followed by Maher's first-ever collegiate home run to right field. In the top of the second frame, Vincent crossed the dish via a throwing error and Maher scored in a wild pitch.
In the third, Maher brought home a pair, smacking a double to left-center field. The following inning, Dillon scored on an RBI single by Vincent.
Fairleigh Dickinson tacked on four more runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by a two-bagger down the right field line courtesy of freshman designated hitter Joe Martino (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke). Lazar chipped-in an RBI base hit to center.
Senior southpaw John O'Hara (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) sat down seven in 6.1 innings of work, yielding a tandem of earned runs to collect the victory. The only blemishes to O'Hara's outing were a solo home run in the fourth frame by Coppin State freshman catcher Patrick Regaldo, followed by a sacrifice fly the next inning.
FDU sophomore right-hander Michael Strachman (Roslyn Heights, NY/Roslyn) narrowly missed notching a save, tossing 2.2 innings of shutout ball.
In the nightcap, a trio of Peacock (2-2) pitchers limited Fairleigh Dickinson to six hits.
Vincent singled to open the contest then scored two batters later after SPC senior righty Santos Maertz uncorked a wild pitch. However, the senior starter bounced back to log five innings, en route to the win.
After the initial three innings, St. Peter's held a 5-1 command. Freshman centerfielder Bryan Dorsey (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) singled to start the fourth frame and eventually scored following back-to-back wild pitches. However, the Peacocks sealed the ball game, plating a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
Despite fanning five, sophomore right-hander Nicholas Melchiorre was saddled with the loss (four innings), after struggling with his control early on. Sophomore lefty Terry Lydecker (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) allowed one run through three innings of relief, while freshman right-hander Spencer Kelly (Rockville, MD/The Bullis School) worked a scoreless eight, striking out two.
Senior infielder Luis Rosario (Bronx, NY/James Monroe) registered the Knights' final run in the sixth, scoring on a balk.
Fairleigh Dickinson returns to action with a twin bill, Sunday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m., they take on Coppin State, followed by a 4:00 p.m. match-up with intrastate rival St. Peter's.
