Score: UAlbany 8, Fairleigh Dickinson 2
Location: Varsity Field in Albany, N.Y.
Records: UAlbany (17-19, 7-8 AE); Fairleigh Dickinson (8-29-1, 6-9 NEC)
Short Story: UAlbany holds visiting Fairleigh Dickinson scoreless after the first inning to win its second straight game against an NEC opponent heading into a three-game series with Maine this weekend.
Coach Mueller: “We limited FDU to three hits and played solid defense. Seven of the nine starters had hits and we added on later on in the contest to create some breathing room. We're looking forward to a crucial weekend at home vs. Maine in a few days.”
Key Stats
- Travis Collins hit 2-4 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs
- Dolan Ocasal hit 2-4 with a double, a run scored, and one RBI
- Marc Wangenstein hit 2-4 with a home run
- Nick Kondo hit 1-2 with a double, one RBI, and two runs scored
- Josh Gurnack hit 1-2 with a double, one RBI, and one run scored
- Seven Great Danes recorded a hit
Recap
Playing its second-straight Northeast Conference opponent to open a 10-game home stand, the University at Albany fell behind early but came back to win convincingly, 8-2, over visiting Fairleigh Dickinson.
The Knights scored quickly, hitting a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the first inning off of UAlbany starter Connor Morrisroe. Though Farileigh Dickinson would threaten again, they would not score another run in the game.
UAlbany took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs. With two outs and no one on, Josh Loeffler doubled to left, and scored when Josh Gurnack doubled down the left field line to put UAlbany on the board. The next batter, Nick Kondo, was hit by a pitch, putting two on and two out for Travis Collins. Collins blasted three-run home run to put UAlbany up 4-2.
The Great Danes scored twice more in the bottom of the seventh. Dolan Ocasal hit a leadoff single to left. After consecutive outs, Kondo doubled to center, scoring Ocasal. Collins drove in Kondo with a double of his own in the next at-bat.
UAlbany added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Marc Wangenstein hit a one-out, solo home run to make the score 7-2. Next, Patrick Lagravinese singled to left and then scored when Ocasal hit a double to left, making the final score 8-2 in favor of the Great Danes.
Collins finished hitting 2-4 with a double, one home run and four RBIs. Ocasal scored and drove in a run, hitting 2-4 with a double. Morrisroe lasted 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on one hit with two strikeouts and three walks. The UAlbany bullpen combined to allow no runs and strike out 10, including Joe Kruszka, who struck out the side in the top of the ninth to end the game.
Next: UAlbany's 10-game home stand continues this weekend with a three-game series against Maine.
