University of Albany Baseball Sweeps Fairleigh Dickinson In Doubleheader - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

Teaneck, N.J. – Brendan Rowland had a hit and scored a run in the first game and drove a home run over the left field wall in his first at bat of the nightcap to lead UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson in non-conference baseball action at FDU Field on Saturday afternoon. The Great Danes posted a 9-6 victory in the first game and won the second by a score of 4-2.

In the first game of the doubleheader, UAlbany took an early two-run lead in the top of the first inning. Senior centerfielder Dave West knocked a base hit through the right side, sending Ryan Gugel and Rowland across home plate. The pair had reached base by being hit by a pitch and a walk, respectively. Fairleigh Dickinson responded in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four runs. Joe Martino recorded an RBI-single to send Matt Maher home, while Mike Eliasen loaded the bases with a single, scoring Brian Dillon in the process. Catcher Scott Morrison drew a walk to send Martino home. The Knights completed the scoring in the inning as Steven LaForge scored on a single by Ryan Kresky.

FDU (4-13) held onto the lead until the top of the fourth, when the Great Danes scored three runs to retake the lead. UAlbany loaded the bases to start the frame, as Sean Donovan hit a single before Jamie Liebowitz was hit by a pitch and Pete Eichner drew a walk. Senior Gary Pitcheralle recorded a two-RBI single through the right side to score the first two baserunners, while Eichner made it home on a FDU throwing error.

The Great Danes took a 8-4 lead in the top half of the fifth. Gugel and West recorded back-to-back singles and Gugel scored the first run of the inning on a throwing error by Morrison. Donovan and Leibowitz then hit consecutive sacrifice flies, scoring West and Mike Tirri, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

Fairleigh Dickinson pulled within two, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. LaForge and Erik Pollag scored on back-to-back RBI singles by Eliasen and Mark Morton. UAlbany added one more insurance run in the top of the ninth with a double by West that scored Gugel, who was hit by a pitch to reach and stole second to move into scoring position.

UAlbany freshman right hander Zach Kraham earned his first win of the season on the mound, going five innings, striking out six. Senior Jeff Kaier tossed two innings in relief, fanning two, while Sean Gregory threw 1.2 innings of no-hit ball. Closer Alexander Beaulieu entered to get the final out for the Great Danes. Nicholas Melchiorre took the loss for FDU, going 4.0 innings with three strikeouts and five runs scored.

The Great Danes continued with their potent offense in the second game of the day, as Rowland homered over the left field wall in his first at bat to get the scoring started. FDU responded in the bottom of the second inning with a solo homer by Joe Martino.

UAlbany added a second run in the top of the third as Kyle Crean singled through the left side to score Pete Eichner, who had a lead-off single to start the frame. Donovan added another run for the Great Danes in the fourth, drawing a walk off FDU pitcher Ben Green, then advancing on a failed pickoff attempt and a throwing error. Donovan made it home on a dropped fly ball, giving UAlbany a 3-1 advantage.

The Great Danes scored another single run in the sixth as Adam Cutspec hit a two-out double down the right field line. Cutspec came around to home on a single by Eichner. FDU added one run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI-double by Eliasen that scored Morton, who reached on a lead-off single to start the frame. Reliever Dave Noble induced a line out by FDU pinch hitter Jeff Vincent and struck out Zachary Sand to end the game in UAlbany’s favor.

Starter Josh Willimott tossed five innings, striking out three and scattering four hits. Noble tossed the final two frames, fanning two. Green took the loss for the Knights, going 5.2 innings on the mound, striking out three.

UAlbany (5-15) will return to action on Wednesday with a single game on the road against non-conference opponent Manhattan at 3 p.m.