NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights broke open a tight game with a five-run eighth inning and pulled away for a 12-5 victory over the Saint John’s Red Storm in nonconference baseball Tuesday evening at Jack Kaiser Stadium.

The Knights, who pounded out 16 hits, improved to 14-7, while the Red Storm fell to 9-14. The result defied pregame projections, as Interstat’s ELO system had given Saint John’s a 78.9 percent probability to win, and its simulator had predicted an 8-6 Fairleigh Dickinson victory.

The most important sequence of the game came in the top of the eighth inning with Fairleigh Dickinson leading 4-3. The Knights sent 10 men to the plate against two Saint John’s relievers, turning the one-run advantage into a commanding 9-3 lead. The rally was fueled by patience and timely hitting. With the bases loaded and one out, Joey Gomez was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Hunter Ray followed with a two-run double, and Diego Urreta capped the outburst with a two-run single to left.

Fairleigh Dickinson’s offense was relentless, led by center fielder Travis Stroh, who went a perfect 4 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. Designated hitter Jeremy Delamota added a solo homer in the ninth as part of a two-hit, two-RBI day. Urreta drove in three runs on three hits, including a triple, and Ray also had three hits and two RBIs.

The Knights received a stellar start from pitcher Mason Hebert, the game’s top star. Hebert tossed 4 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, allowing just one earned run while striking out two. Hebert, coming off a complete-game win over Marist on March 17, was lifted after 4 2/3 innings having thrown 76 pitches. He handed a 4-3 lead to the bullpen, which preserved the win. Chris Mattioli followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory.

Saint John’s managed only seven hits, with first baseman Adam Agresti providing the bulk of the offense. Agresti went 2 for 3 with a solo home run in the second inning, two walks and two runs scored. The Red Storm scored two unearned runs in the fourth on a Knights error and added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but could not keep pace with Fairleigh Dickinson’s offensive output.

Saint John’s starter Thomas Harding took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits over three innings. Reliever Brady Clark provided 2 2/3 innings of solid work, giving up one run on two hits.

The Knights continue their road swing at Lehigh on Wednesday. Saint John’s travels to face Marist on Wednesday.