Baseball Wins Opener vs. FDU on Thursday
Blue Devils and Knights will play twice on Friday
The Central Connecticut baseball team won its second straight game on the road on Thursday, topping Fairleigh Dickinson 6-5 in Northeast Conference action in New Jersey. The win pushes the Blue Devil record to 12-12 on the season and 4-5 in NEC play. FDU drops to 7-20 overall and 1-8 in league action.
The Blue Devils wasted little time getting on the board thanks to senior J.P. Sportman. Batting leadoff for just the second time this season Sportman belted his first home run of the year for the 1-0 lead. The Knights took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run, two-out double from Zach Tondi.
The Knights tacked on a third run in the second inning on an RBI single from Shane Siebler. They made it 4-1 in the fifth inning on an RBI double from Ryan Brennan.
Freshman Pat Sirois drove home the second run of the game for the Blue Devils with a bases loaded single in the top of the sixth inning, making it 4-2. With the bases loaded Sportman doubled to score two more and tie the game 4-4. The lead reached 6-4 after an error by the Knights and then a sacrifice fly from junior Dominic Severino.
The Knights cut the CCSU lead to 6-5 one a solo home run by Riley Moonan in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Freshman Brett Susi earned the start for CCSU and went 4.1 innings allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three and walking two.
Freshman Austin Salnitis earned the victory by throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. The victory is the first of Salnitis' career. Senior Anthony Mannuccia pitched the seventh and eighth innings and surrendered just one run on one hit. Senior Josh Ingham worked a scoreless ninth to earn his sixth save of the season.
Sportman finished the day four-of-five at the plate. He also drove in three of CCSU's six runs.
Ryan McGrath took the loss for the Knights. He falls to 2-1 on the season.
The Blue Devils and Knights will continue the weekend series with a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. The series concludes on Saturday with a single game at 1 p.m.
