Emmitsburg, Md. (May 18, 2014)--The Mount St. Mary's baseball team saw its playoff hopes dashed with a pair of losses to visiting Fairleigh Dickinson today at E.T. Straw Family Stadium.  The Mountaineers entered the day needing a pair of wins to secure the fourth and final spot in the NEC Tournament. 

A 3-1 extra-inning loss in the opening game of the doubleheader eliminated the Mount from playoff contention.  The Mount dropped the nightcap by the score of 10-4.

GAME ONE
Fairleigh Dickinson 3, Mount St. Mary's 1 (8 innings)

The Mountaineers saw their playoff hopes end with a 3-1 loss in eight innings in the opening game of the doubleheader. 

Head coach Scott Thomson called on Mount closer Nick Riley to start, and the senior provided a strong effort in his final collegiate appearance.  Riley allowed three runs (two earned) in 7.1 innings. 

Mount St. Mary's (17-24, 10-14 NEC) broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Chris Del Vecchio led off the frame by getting hit by a pitch.  He then advanced all the way to third base on a failed pickoff attempt from FDU starter John Chalupa.  Chalupa then uncorked a wild pitch to allow Del Vecchio to score the first run of the game.

The Knights (15-32, 6-18 NEC) evened the score with a run in the top of the sixth.  Dylan Sprague and Riley Moonan singled to open the inning, putting runners on first and third with no outs.  John Giakas then grounded into a fielder's choice, with Sprague scoring on the play to tie the game.

The Mount had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Del Vecchio started the inning with a base hit to center field.  Pinch hitter Joshua Lenig then put down a two-strike sacrifice bunt to move Del Vecchio to second base.  The next batter, Tommy Quealy, hit the ball back to FDU pitcher Eric Snyder, who was able to get Del Vecchio out on the play. 

After Quealy stole second, the inning ended on a crazy play.  Andrew Frazier grounded to second base, but was safe at first when no one covered the bag.  FDU, however, retired Quealy on the play as he was caught in a rundown after he rounded third base too far.

FDU scored two runs in the top of the eighth to earn the win.  Shayne Siebler advanced to second base on an error to open the inning.  After a Matt McCann sacrifice, the Mount intentionally walked Sprague, putting runners on the corners with one out.  Siebler then scampered home on a wild pitch for a 2-1 FDU lead.  Riley Moonan walked, and John Giakas singled down the third-base line to make it a 3-1 game. 

The Mountaineers could not convert several scoring chances early in the game.  Kory Britton led off the bottom of the second with a double, but was stranded at third base.  In the third inning, Quealy was caught at the plate on a suicide squeeze attempt.

Riley allowed three runs (two earned) with a pair of strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.  It was the first start for Riley since his sophomore season in 2012.  Frazier finished 2-for-4 while Del Vecchio was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

GAME TWO
Fairleigh Dickinson 10, Mount St. Mary's 4

Fairleigh Dickinson scored four times in the top of the first to take control of the game en route to a 10-4 victory.  Jordan Lawson pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Mountaineers.

The Knights scored four runs in the top of the first off Mount starter Kevin Myers.  Lawson came on in relief, and provided 3.2 scoreless innings for the Mountaineers.

The Mount scored single runs in the second and third innings to cut the deficit to 4-2.  In the second, Tyler Post walked with the bases loaded to force home a run.  In the third, the Mount loaded the bases on an error and two hit batsmen, and Ryan Owens followed with an RBI groundout.

FDU took control of the game with four unearned runs in the top of the seventh before adding a pair of runs in the eighth for a 10-2 lead.

The Mount rounded out the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth.  Reliever Nick Cuono walked Kory Britton to open the inning.  Mount pitcher Karl Lamont then came on to pinch run for Britton, and he moved to second on a wild pitch.  After a walk to Ryan Owens, both runners again moved up on a wild pitch.  Michael Flyte walked to load the bases, and Lamont scampered home on reliever Yonah Perline's wild pitch.  Chris Del Vecchio's sacrifice fly provided the final run of the game.

Britton, Owens and Greg Hajjar each had a hit for the Mount in the loss.  Lawson struck out a pair while allowing just one hit in his 3.2 innings.  Ben Smallenbroek, Scott Nickerson and Chad Diehl each added a scoreless inning of relief in the game.