Score Game 1: FDU 8, UAlbany 3
Score Game 2: UAlbany 12, FDU 12
Location: Naimoli Family Baseball Complex in Teaneck, New Jersey
Records: UAlbany (0-5-1) | FDU (5-4-1)
Short Story: The University at Albany baseball team fell to FDU in game one before forcing a 10-inning tie in game two of today's doubleheader. The day was highlighted by
Dan Tauken, who hit two home runs throughout the day, and
Connor Eisenmann, who pitched six strong innings while starting in game two.
Head Coach Jon Mueller: "The defense was solid all afternoon. We will continue to work moving forward to improve on the areas we have struggled with."
Key Stats Game 1:
- UAlbany Pitchers:
- Will Feil and Owen Silliman each finished with a hit and an RBI. Silliman posted two walks, Feil finished with one walk and added a stolen base.
- Dan Tauken hit his first home run as a Great Dane, a solo shot in the fourth.
- Will Binder recorded a hit, a double in the opening innings.
- Carson Dunkel recorded a run and a stolen base on two walks in the leadoff spot.
- The Great Danes finished with four hits, eight walks, seven strikeouts, and left eight men on base.
Key Stats Game 2:
- UAlbany Pitchers:
- Dan Tauken went 3-4, including his second home run of the afternoon. He totaled four RBIs and two runs while also drawing two walks.
- Eisenmann pitched six strong innings for UAlbany, handing the ball off in the seventh with a total of five strikeouts.
- Will Feil went 2-4 with three RBIs, three runs, and two walks. He hit a double and a home run.
- Will Binder went 2-5 with a two RBIs and three runs.
- Jason Bottari added three runs on two hits.
- Owen Silliman collected an RBI, going 2-5 at the plate.
- UAlbany finished with 13 hits, eight walks, eight strikeouts, and left eight men on base
How it Happened Game 1:
- Dylan Banner started on the mound for UAlbany in game one, Rich Racobaldo started for FDU.
- FDU struck first in the bottom half of the opening inning. Brian Sanders singled to left field to score Joan Sosa from second base.
- Will Feil tied it up for UAlbany in the third inning with a two out RBI single to bring home Carson Dunkel, who drew a walk to get on base.
- Dan Tauken hit his first home run in a Great Danes uniform when he pinch hit for Josh Salandy in the fourth, making it 2-1 UAlbany.
- FDU responded by dealing damage in the fourth. Justin Sierra led off the inning with a solo home run to tie the game at two before a Tom Ruscitti RBI single gave the Knights the 3-2 lead. Hunter D'Amato would manage to push the lead to 4-2 with an RBI single himself, forcing UAlbany's Banner out of the game.
- Nicholas Jessen replaced Banner with one out in the fourth and a runner on.
- The Knights weren't done that inning however, with another RBI single coming off the bat of Tommy Verga to make it 5-2.
- Nick Feretic entered the game for FDU to start the sixth.
- A two-run home run from FDU's Ruscitti made it 7-2 in the sixth.
- Cam Fuer took the mound for UAlbany in the seventh.
- FDU pushed the lead to 8-2 in the seventh before UAlbany responded with a run in the eighth. Owen Silliman singled to third to drive home Jason Bottari, 8-3.
- Ryan Pittz was handed the ball for the first time in his collegiate career to open the eighth.
- Shane Sax came in to end the game for FDU in the ninth.
How it Happened Game 2:
- Connor Eisenmann started on the mound for UAlbany in game two, Jeremy Cheeseman started for FDU.
- Tauken hit his second long ball of the day for UAlbany in game two, a two-run shot that scored Binder and put the Great Danes up 2-0 early.
- FDU grabbed a run back in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out RBI single from D'Amato, scoring Sosa.
- Will Feil hit his second home run of thew season in the third inning, a two-run shot that scored Bottari and made it 4-1 UAlbany.
- FDU responded by adding two runs in the bottom half of the third. D'Amato drove in a run on a fielder's choice and Verga singled to second for anther run, 4-3.
- Patrick Gardner was handed the ball for FDU to start the fifth.
- UAlbany added run support in the seventh inning. Feil sent a double to right field and Tauken, enjoying his best day in his short UAlbany career, added another two runs on a single to center to make it 7-3. The scoring knocked Gardner out of the game with FDU turning to Even Stewart with one out.
- The scoring didn't stop, however, with Owen Silliman driving in one more run to push it to 8-3 to close out the seventh.
- Michael DiMartino took the ball for UAlbany to start the bottom of the seventh.
- Grant Goodlad was given the ball for FDU in the eighth.
- FDU jumped right back in the game after a three-run home run from Anthony Chiappetta in the bottom of the eighth, making it 8-6.
- Kyle McCaffrey replaced DiMartino on the mound with two outs in the eighth.
- FDU tied the game in the final frame. With two outs and a man on, Brian Sanders knocked a two-run shot over the wall to tie the game at eight.
- UAlbany was able to load the bases in the top of the tenth with Will Binder coming to the plate, two outs on the board. Binder was able to drive one to center to bring home Bottari and Devan Kruzinski, giving UAlbany a 10-8 advantage.
- The bases became loaded once again following a walk to Tauken. Chris Fisher hit a ball to left to bring in two more runs with Binder and Feil crossing home plate, 12-8.
- Owen Birkman took the mound for UAlbany in the bottom of the tenth.
- After three batters were hit by a pitch to load the bases, FDU gained two runs back on a Sierra single to left. Steven Turk replaced Birkman on the mound following the single.
- A bases loaded walk would score one more, and a SAC fly from Sanders would tie the game once again, 12-12.
- After a meeting between the two head coaches, the game was officially called after the 10th inning – resulting in a 12-12 tie.
Next: UAlbany travels to CCSU this Wednesday for a midweek matchup with the Blue Devils. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany baseball by following the team on
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