Fairleigh Dickinson University falls to Duquesne University in the second game of the Buckeye Invitational

Punta Gorda, Florida: While their home states were dealing with freezing temperatures and above average snowfall, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights and Duquesne Dukes were in Charlotte County, Florida enjoying warm temperatures and Florida sunshine. Both clubs were participating in the Buckeye Invitational as part of the 2010 Snowbird Baseball Classic taking place at the South Regional Park in Punta Gorda. The game featured plenty of excitement with the Dukes walking away with the 12-10 victory.

The Knights took to the field as the home team with sophomore Ray Courtney getting the start on the mound. Duquesne’s Andrew Heck delivered the first run of the game on a deep home run to right center. Following the home run, Courtney loaded the bases by hitting Rick Devereaux then walking Mark Tracy and Chris Kimmeth to load the bases. With his back to the wall and the bases loaded, Courtney failed to deliver strikes and walked Mike Ganley to score Devereaux and give the Dukes a 2-0 lead. After a brief mound visit, Courtney regained his confidence and recorded out number three to strand the remained three runners and get out of the inning without any further damage.

Fairleigh Dickinson took to the plate in the home half of the first inning to try and cut into the lead. Stephen La Forge got things going with a one out double. Sarasota’s own Brian Dillon then drew a walk to give the Knights runners on first and second. Dillon later beat the throw to the plate, scoring and pulling the Knights to within a run of the lead.

When the Dukes returned to the plate in the second, the offense picked up right where they left off. Derrik Zeroski led off the inning with a walk. Zeroski then stole second and advanced to third on a ground out by Matt Carson. Courtney issued another walk to Heck prior to Devereaux driving home a run with an RBI single. An error by FDU’s right fielder on the play led to a run scored by Zeroski scoring and Devereaux moving to second. Anthony DeFabio drew yet another walk before Kimmeth drove home two ruins with a single that scored Devereaux and Heck. After giving up six runs on three hits and allowing six walks, the Knights went to the bullpen and brought Matt Cadigan into the game to try and cool the Dukes offense. Cadigan’s first batter, Ganley delivered a two run double to increase the Duquesne lead to 6-1.

Fairleigh Dickinson chipped away at the lead little by little throughout the game beginning with the second inning. Scott Morrison singled to put a runner on the base path. Mike Eliasen followed with an RBI double to score Morrison.

FDU’s Cadigan walked Zeroski to lead off the third inning before getting Carson to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Heck then grounded out to third to end the inning and keep the Dukes from adding to the scoreboard.

The Knights added another run in the home half of the third inning. Joe Martino reached on an error with one out. Martino advanced to second on a ground out by Jonathan Torres and then to third on a single by Morrison. Eliasen plated the run with an RBI single to cut the lead in half 6-3.

Both clubs exchanged runs in the fourth inning. A solo home run by Tracy accounted for the Duquesne run. Fairleigh Dickinson earned its run on an sacrifice fly by Robinson to score Matt Holsman.

Fairleigh Dickinson inched closer in the fifth inning. Torres and Morrison led off the inning with back to back singles. Eliasen drove home Torres to add a run to the Knights total as the Knights trailed the Dukes 7-5.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Knight’s relentless determination led to them taking the lead in the seventh inning. FDU took the lead by scoring five runs in the inning. The rally started with Torres and Morrison earning walks. Eliasen drove in the first run of the inning on an RBI single. Holsman plated two more runs with a ground ball to third that was misplayed leading to Morrison and Eliasen crossing the plate. Then a two run blast by La Forge ended the scoring drive with the Knights holding their first lead of the game 10-7.

Duquesne battled back in the top of the eighth inning to regain the lead. Back to back doubles by Heck and Devereaux started the inning. DeFabio drove home Devereaux with an RBI single. After a pitching change for the Knights, Kimmeth drew a walk to pit runners on first and second. A double steal by DeFabio and Kimmeth put both runners into scoring position for the Dukes. Ganley contributed to the rally with a sac fly to score DeFabio and advance Kimmeth to third. Kimmeth later scored on a wild pitch by Jonathan Scott to give Duquesne a one run lead, 11-10.

The Dukes added an insurance run in the ninth inning. Devereaux reached base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He then advanced to second on a ground out by Tracy and then to third on a wild pitch by Craig Warner. Kimmeth plated the final run of the game on a ground ball back to the mound, giving the Dukes the 12-10 win.

With the win, the Dukes are 1-1 in the invitational and 3-8 on the season. The Knights fell to 1-1 in the invitational and 1-4 on the season.

For photos from the games, visit the Fairleigh Dickinson University/Duquesne University photo gallery.