April 20, 2008

Box Score

Teaneck, NJ - John Meadus' complete game shutout led Fairleigh Dickinson to a 4-0 win over Wagner to salvage a split in the teams' four-game set at FDU Field. Meadus struck out six while allowing just two hits over 9.0 scoreless innings in helping FDU improve to 9-26 and 4-7 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Green & White fall to 15-18 and 7-5 in the NEC.

Sophomore Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) led off the second with a single to right-center, advancing to second on a fielding error by Matt Maher. After a fly out, McDonnell moved over to third on a wild pitch. However, he would advance no further as third baseman Steven LaForge gunned him out at the plate by a step on a slow roller up the left side.

FDU would dent the scoreboard in the bottom part of the inning. Brian Dillon singled with one out. Andrew Ahn followed with a single before Erik Pollag walked to load the bases. Brett Lazar got the Knights on the board with a RBI groundout. Jeff Vincent followed with a two-run single to push the lead out to 3-0.

Sophomore RHP Matt Watson (Howell, NJ / Howell) calmed down after the second and did not allow a hit in each of his final four innings of work and struck out four of the last seven hitters he faced.

The Seahawks would threaten in the top of the fifth. After getting down 0-2 in the count, freshman Joe Jamison (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) battled back to draw a lead off walk. After a fly out, classmate Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) collected a walk of his own. Meadus got out of the jam, coaxing a double play grounder to the third baseman.

In the seventh, freshman Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) led off the eighth with a single through the left side. Boyd then reached base on a fielder's choice and after stealing second, moved over to third on a ground out but could get no further.

FDU tacked on a run in the eighth, using a pair of singles and a stolen base to go up 4-0.

Meadus got Wagner in order in the ninth to preserve the shutout in moving to 3-4 on the year. Watson (3-5) was the tough-luck loser, striking out five while yielding three runs, on just three hits and two walks, over 6.0 solid innings.

Wagner next heads to Rutgers on Tuesday, April 22 with first pitch set for 3:30 pm.