TEANECK, N.J. – The Sacred Heart baseball team's third final inning comeback attempt of the weekend and bid at a four-game sweep fell just short, as the Pioneers' were denied when Joel Roman hit Fairleigh Dickinson's fourth home run of the game for a walkoff 7-5 victory in the tenth inning on Sunday afternoon. The loss snapped a season-long  seven-game win streak for SHU, who still sits comfortably in second place in the Northeast Conference at 12-3 and 21-15 overall.

Baylor Sundahl had given Sacred Heart the opportunity to erase a 5-2 deficit in the eighth by throwing 4.1 scoreless innings of relief prior to the homer. The comeback started when Ted Shaw and Jayson Sullivan roped back-to-back doubles to lead off the eighth. This allowed back-to-back sacrifice flies by Zack Short and Victor Sorrento to make it a one-run game heading into the ninth.

Sundahl stranded a runner on second, the first to reach scoring position on him, to keep the score at 5-4 entering the ninth. SHU found magic once again, although it would never have happened had FDU not committed an error with two outs to extend the game. Alex Perry took full advantage, doubling in the next at bat to score Anthony Capozziello from first for the Pioneers' third final inning comeback in the four-game series.

Sundahl worked around a lead off single in the ninth to give Sacred Heart the chance to take the lad in the tenth, and Sullivan got things off to a good start when he led off with an infield single. He was then sacrificed to second by Short and took third on a ground out. Fairleigh Dickinson made the decision to intentionally walk Dan Schock, which paid off when the next hitter flew out to end the threat.

Jose DeLeon reached via a one-out walk in the bottom half and would steal second to get into scoring position for Roman, who sent his home run over the right field fence on a 1-1 pitch. 

As mentioned, that was the fourth homer of the afternoon for FDU, who got two off the bat of John Giakas in his 3-3 day. Dylan Sprague added the other and would have earned the save if not for the two-out error in the ninth. He instead would settle for the win. Jason Fatzinger matched Giakas' three hits.

Capozziello belted the first home run of his career for SHU, who was outhit 12-6 on the afternoon. Sullivan was the lone Pioneer with two hits and he also added a base on balls. 

On the mound, Fairleigh Dickinson (19-21, 9-10 NEC) starter Logan Frati limited the Sacred Heart offense to just two hits and two runs over his seven innings. He struck out ten and walked just three. Joe Flack gave up the two runs in the eighth inning before Sprague came on in the ninth.

For Sacred Heart, starter Jesus Medina was tagged for five runs in five innings on seven hits. Sundahl surrendered five hits in his 4.1 innings.

Six of the first seven runs on the afternoon came via the long ball. Fairleigh Dickinson jumped right on SHU with just the third batter the Knights sent to the plate. Giakas followed Bobby Romano's one out single by sending the first of his two homers over the left field fence. It did not take long for the Pioneers to answer, with Capozziello driving in Jake Friar on a 3-1 pitch hat also went over the left field wall. Sprague led off the third with a solo dinger on an 0-2 pitch before Shane Siebler's sacrifice fly in the fourth provided the first run that did not come from a four-bagger. Giakas then hit his second of the game, of the solo variety, with one out in the fifth to make the score 5-2.

Sacred Heart prepares for next weekend's crucial NEC series at first place Bryant with a midweek 3 pm start at Fairfield on Tuesday.