Emmitsburg, Md. (April 26, 2013)--Scott Nickerson struck out seven while allowing one earned run in 7.2 innings to pace Mount St. Mary's past Fairleigh Dickinson, 7-1, on Friday afternoon in the opening game of a four-game series.

Tom Healy led the offense, going 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.  Healy was a home run away from hitting for the cycle as he finished with two singles, a double and a triple in the win.  Healy pushed his team-leading average to .358 on the year with his four-hit day.

The Mount (8-25, 3-14 NEC) scored runs in each of the first four innings to take a 6-0 advantage.  In the bottom of the first, Jay Knight led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Mark Quaranta's RBI single.

The Mount added a run in the second when Zach Smith singled, Brandon Scott reached on an error, and Knight had a bunt single to load the bases.  Nick Walker drove home Smith with a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-0.

Sam Nott led off the bottom of the third with his team-leading eighth home run of the season.  Healy followed by lacing a triple to right-center field, and he scored on a Tommy Quealy groundout.

The Mountaineers added two more runs in the fourth for a 6-0 lead.  Knight singled to left to open the inning, and then stole second base.  It was his team-leading 22nd steal of the year.  Walker and Nott walked to load the bases, and Healy greeted reliever Joe Borelli with an RBI single.  Andrew Clow then walked the bases loaded to force home another run.

The Knights (9-27, 4-17 NEC) broke up Nickerson's shutout bid in the top of the eighth inning.  Ryan MacDonald singled to open the inning, and then scored on a Kyle Weeks two-out double to right-center field.  Alain Girman came on in relief of Nickerson, and retired Dylan Sprague on a groundout to end the inning.

Mount St. Mary's got that run back in the bottom of the seventh when Healy doubled, stole third, and then scored an a Tommy Quealy RBI single that took a bad hop off the shortstop.

Nickerson improved to 2-5 on the year by allowing one run and six hits while collecting seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings.  Girman struck out one in 1.1 innings of relief.

Knight went 3-for-5 with two runs scored while Smith was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the victory.  Nott finished 1-for-2 with three walks for the Mountaineers.

Anderson went 3-for-3 for Fairleigh Dickinson in the game.  Starting pitcher Craig Warner allowed six runs and eight hits in 3.1 innings.

The teams continue the four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. at E.T. Straw Family Stadium.

GAME NOTES:  The win snapped the Mount's four-game losing streak, and was the team's first home game since April 10...The Mount is now 43-29 all-time against Fairleigh Dickinson.