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Staten Island, NY - Fairleigh Dickinson jumped out to a five-run lead in the top of the fourth inning before holding off a late-charging Wagner squad by a score of 7-5 while sweeping today's doubleheader at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Knights improve to 12-32 and 9-18 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Seahawks fall to 17-29 and 11-16 in the NEC.

The Green & White assumed the early lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) delivered this single with one out. Following a line out, Conforti stole second before advancing to third on an errant throw. Sophomore Gaby Ramirez (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA)) picked up Conforti with this RBI single to center field, scoring the speedy centerfielder.

FDU answered with four runs in the top of the third inning. Ryan Kresky tied the game up with a RBI single, scoring Jonathan Torres. Following a Steven LaForge single, Brian Dillon walked to load the bases. Eric Anderson then gave the Knights a 2-1 lead with a RBI walk before Mike Eliasen delievered a two-run, one-out single, extending the lead out to 4-1. The damage could have been worse had it not been for a diving catch by Conforti in center, ending the frame.

Wagner got one of those runs back in the bottom part of the third. Freshman Ian Miller (Downington, PA / Bishop Shanahan) led off with a double before junior Eddie Brown (Edison, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) walked. The pair was then advanced to second-and-third on a sacrifice bunt from junior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic). Senior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) brought home Miller with a RBI ground out, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

FDU responded with three unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning while taking advantage of two Seahawk miscues. DJ Robinson delivered a two-run, two-out single to left field before another run scored on an field error allowing the Knights to stretch their lead to 7-2.

The Seahawks responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Miller led off with a single before stealing second-and-third. Brown then laced this RBI double to left field, plating Miller. Higgins followed with a RBI single of his own while drawing to within three at 7-4 and chasing starting pitcher RHP Chris Theordor from the game. Lucas moved Higgins to third with this single up the middle. Following a pair of outs, Higgins came around to score on a balk making it a 7-5 game.

Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Green & White would get as LHP Matt Cadigan retired Wagner in order in the bottom of the sixth inning. Spencer Kelly then relieved Cadigan with one out in the bottom of the seventh and got the only two batters he faced for his ninth save of the year and third of the weekend.

Higgins led the way for Seahawks, going 2-for-2 with two stolen bases and a walk while also adding a run, RBI and sacrifice. Miller also went 2-for-4 with two runs, two stolen bases and a double.

Kresky paced FDU, which also had nine hits, going 4-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.

Theordor (1-7) earned the win, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits and a walk with one strikeout over 4.0 innings.  

Junior RHP Mark Holmes (Manalapan, NJ / Manalapan) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks over 2.1 innings while falling to 3-5 on the year. Senior RHP Jack Rice (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) closed out the game, firing 2.0 perfect innings.

The teams will conclude their four-game series tomorrow with a 1:00 pm finale. Prior to the game the seven Wagner seniors (Boyd, Conforti, Hering, Lucas McDonnell, Rees, Rice) will be recognized for their time with the program.