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Staten Island, NY - Fairleigh Dickinson scored twice in the top of the ninth inning before holding off Wagner in the bottom part of the frame en route to a 4-3 victory in the first of a four-game Northeast Conference (NEC) series at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Knights improve to 10-32 and 7-18 in the NEC while the Seahawks fall to 17-27 and 11-14 in the league.

The loss snapped the Green & White's six-game winning streak while also spoiling an outstanding performance from junior RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College). The Canadian native yielded just two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two first-inning pick-offs over 8.0 solid innings.

Wagner struck for the game's first run in the top of the third inning. With one out, senior Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) doubled to right field. On the next pitch, Conforti stole third before scampering home on an errant throw from the catcher on the play.

FDU threatened in the top of the fourth inning as Ryan Kresky led off with a triple to right field but was stranded there as Van Spronsen induced a pop up, a grounder to the mound and an inning-ending ground out.

The Seahawks added to the lead with another single tally in the bottom of the sixth inning but the damage could have been much worse. Junior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) led off with a triple to left field before scoring on the next play when senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) smoked this single up the middle against a drawn-in infield on the first pitch he saw from Knight LHP Eric Anderson. Junior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) followed with this bunt single before senior Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) reached via this bunt single, loading up the bases with no outs. Unfortunately, senior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) lined into a double play, erasing Higgins at second base. After Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) again loaded the bases up with a walk, Anderson induced an inning-ending pop out to the first baseman in foul territory.

Anderson exited from the game after the inning, yielding two runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings and like Van Spronsen would not factor in the decision.

FDU dented the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning with a single run. Erik Pollag doubled with one out before moving to third on a DJ Robinson single. Pollag then crossed home plate on a balk, cutting the deficit to one at 2-1.

Wagner got that run back in the bottom part of the frame when Conforti scored on two-out error by Joe Martino in left field, extending the lead out to 3-1.

FDU again trimmed it to one on a Mike Eliasen sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning but the damage could have been much worse had it not been for an outstanding driving catch by Brown for the second out before McDonnell corralled a deep drive by Pollag for the final out of the frame.

In the top of the ninth inning, DJ Robinson and Joe Martino led off with singles before the pair was moved to second-and-third on a Matt Holsman sacrifice bunt. JT Sherba tied the game up with a grounder to Boyd but the throw bounced away from senior Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata), allowing Martino to come around with the eventual winning run.

The Seahawks threatened in the bottom part of the frame with a two-out rally. Conforti notched his second double of the game down the right field line before Brown was hit by a pitch. Boyd then crushed a long drive to center field that Jonathan Torres was able to corral at the fence for the final out of the game.

FDU out-hit Wagner 10-8 and was led by Kresky, who went 3-for-4 with a triple while Robinson was 2-for-4 with a run.

Conforti led the way for the Seahawks, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and a stolen base. Brown also had a good game, going 2-for-4 with a double, triple and a run while Boyd went 2-for-5 with a RBI single.

Knight RHP Zach Kisling (3-0) earned the win, hurling a perfect eighth inning while RHP Spencer Kelly notched his seventh save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

The teams will resume their series with a 12:00 pm doubleheader tomorrow.