BRIDGEPORT, Conn.—Redshirt junior PJ DeFilippo's go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the eighth capped the Sacred Heart baseball team's 6-5 comeback win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday afternoon. The Pioneers (9-22, 3-3 NEC) held the first-place Knights (8-15, 6-2 NEC) scoreless over the final five innings to pick up the series opener at Harbor Yard.

Sacred Heart didn't take long to get going as juniors Alex Perry and Anthony Capozziello picked up back-to-back singles in the first. They both advanced on a balk by Knights starter Evan Layne. After captain Keith Klebart drew a walk, fellow captain Ted Shaw delivered a RBI sacrifice fly to center field to take the lead. The Pioneers scored again in the bottom of the second as DeFilippo scored from second base on junior Cody Doyle's single through the right side. The Pioneers loaded the bases shortly after on a single by Elijah Brown and a hit by pitch on Perry but Layne struck out the remaining two batters to escape the jam. The Pioneers left a season-high 15 runners on base in the game. 

FDU showed why they are atop the NEC standings with a big top of the third. Hunter Reeser opened the frame with a double of junior James Taubl. After a walk to Brady Seltzer, Matt McCann laid down the bunt single to load the bases. Brady Romano then plated a single to left field to tie the game at 2-2. He advanced to second on an errant throw home by freshman Elijah Brown. Reigning NEC Player of the Week, Ryan Brennan added the third run on an RBI groundout to short. Owen Vonesslinger extended the lead to 4-2 on his RBI single to left field.

The Pioneers failed to answer in the bottom of the third as they left three more runners stranded on base. The Knights added their fifth run of the game in the fourth as Hunter Reeser reached on a throwing error by freshman Austin Markmann. He would come around to score on another RBI single by Romano to push the lead to 5-3.

FDU reliever James Sharkey held the Pioneers offense, only allowing three hits over the fourth, fifth and sixth inning. That all changed in the top of the seventh inning as DeFilippo opened the inning with a walk. DeFilippo would make things happen on the base paths as he stole second base and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a pitching change, Brown squared up the 3-2 offering from Dillion Forsythe to deep center field to score DeFilippo.

SHU kept things going in the bottom of the eighth as Klebart roped a one-out double to right field. Shaw worked a full count walk off Forsythe to represent the tying run. Up to the plate stepped Markmann, who delivered a single to right field to tie the game at 5-5. In the next at bat, DeFilippo followed suit with his RBI single to left field giving SHU the lead once again. 

Sophomore Jackson Aldam held the Knights in check as he threw three and a third shutout innings in relief for his first career win. Graduate Mike Lembo came in and worked a 1-2-3 inning for his first career save. DeFilippo and Brown led the eight Pioneers to record a hit in the game, going 2-for-3 at the dish. DeFilippo tied a career-high with three runs scored. With his single in the first, Capozziello extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

The Pioneers and Knights continue their four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.