Emmitsburg, Md. (April 18, 2009)—Mount St. Mary's swept a doubleheader from Fairleigh Dickinson at E.T. Straw Family Stadium on campus on Saturday afternoon to move into first place in the Northeast Conference. The Mount (16-16, 8-3 NEC) won the opening game, 8-7, before earning a 9-5 win in game two.

Shortstop Jacob Darr (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) went a combined 7-for-8 with four runs scored and four RBI in the sweep while closer Mike Matta (Woodbridge, Va./Potomac) earned the win in each game of the twinbill.

In the opening game, Darr ripped a walk-off double over the head of the center fielder in the bottom of the seventh to plate Matt Staso (Ellicott City, Md./Mount St. Joseph) with the winning run. Staso opened the frame with a base hit and moved to second on a wild pitch before Darr's game-winning hit.

Mount St. Mary's opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Tommy Flynn (Reston, Va./South Lakes) singled through the right side of the infield. Darr followed with an RBI double to right-center field to give the Mountaineers the early lead.

Fairleigh Dickinson (9-21, 4-7 NEC) then used a pair of three-run homers to take an early 6-1 advantage. In the second, Ryan Kresky homered to straight-away center field with two runners on to give the Knights a 3-1 lead. The next inning, Mark Morton hit a three-run homer to left to give FDU a five-run lead.

The Mount answered with a run in the bottom of the third on a Shane Eyler (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key) bases loaded walk. FDU starter John Meadus, however, got out of the bases-loaded no-out jam without any further damage. The Knights then answered that run with a Jeff Vincent RBI single in the fourth.

The Mount posted five runs in the bottom of the fourth to even the score at 7-7. Michael Foster (Easton, Md./Easton) and Staso walked while Darr singled to left to load the bases with no out. Kyle Kane (Boonsobro, Md./Boonsboro) followed with a two-run single up the middle to cut the FDU lead to three. After a strikeout, freshman Josh Winter (Timonium, Md./Boys' Latin) doubled to the left-center field gap to score two more runs to make the score 7-6. After Joe Kavanagah (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) was hit by a pitch, Alex Andrews (Vienna, Va./James Madison) greeted reliever Chris Theordor with a base hit up the middle to plate Winter with the game-tying run.

Darr went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI to pace the Mount in the first game while Flynn and Winter each added two hits in the victory. Starter Costa Kapothanasis (Westbrook, Maine/Cheverus) allowed seven runs in three innings in a no decision. Reliever Brett Moore (Clifton, Va./Paul VI) pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief while Matta earned the win with 2.1 innings of one-hit, shutout relief.

Matt Holsman went 3-for-4 in the opening game for FDU.

In the second game, the Mount scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to snap a 5-5 tie and earn the 9-5 victory. With two outs and the bases empty, Flynn doubled to the left-center field gap to start the rally. Darr then blooped a double down the right-field line to score Flynn with the go-ahead run. A pair of hit batsmen loaded the bases for Staso, who cleared the bases with a double to the gap in left-center field to give the Mount a 9-5 lead.

The Mountaineers put together four-straight singles to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first in the second game. Flynn, Darr and Kane each singled to load the bases for Eyler, who rapped a base-hit up the middle to score two runs.

The Knights scored a run in the second and two more in the top of the third to take a 3-2 advantage. Jeff Vincent's fielder's choice scored Kresky in the second. In the third, Matt Maher hit a sacrifice fly and Scott Morrison's infield single plated Brian Dillon to give the Knights the lead.

Darr led off the bottom of the third with his third home run of the season to even the score at 3-3.

Mount St. Mary's scored twice in the fifth to take the lead. Darr started that rally with a double down the left-field line. He was forced out at third on a grounder by Kane, who moved to second on a wild pitch before an intentional walk to Eyler. Those two moved up on a wild pitch and with Kane then scoring on a Staso infield single. Winter then grounded into a fielder's choice, beating the relay throw to first, to score Eyler for a 5-3 advantage.

Zachary Sand belted a two-run homer in the sixth off of Matt to even the score at 5-5 before the Mount scored four times in the bottom of the frame to earn the win.

Darr went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI in game two while Staso went 2-for-3 with three four RBI. Sand went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored to pace the Knights in game two.

Matta pitched two innings to earn the win in game two to move to 3-0 on the season. Starter Brady Feigl allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings with four strikeouts in a no-decision.

FDU starter Michael Strachman allowed five runs in five innings in a no-decision while Ryan Hennessy took the loss, allowing all four runs in the sixth.

The teams complete the four-game series with a 12:00 p.m. game at E.T. Straw Family Stadium tomorrow.

Game Notes...The Mount improved to 7-0 at home in NEC games this year...Overall, the Mount has posted a 12-4 record so far this year at Straw Family Stadium...Darr and Staso are now tied for the team lead with 10 doubles each on the year...Matta has two wins and a save in the first three games of the four-game set.