Box Score MADISON, NJ - Trailing 9-8 with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, junior shortstop Brandan Adams ripped a single to center field that scored two runs to give the College at Florham Devils a 10-9 win over Manhattanville in Freedom Conference action on Friday afternoon.  The win clinches a spot in the upcoming Freedom Conference Tournament for FDU, where they will be the third seed.

With the win, the Devils improved to 16-18 (11-8 Freedom) while the Valiants dropped to 10-26 (7-12 Freedom).

FDU started the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly from senior outfielder Nick Core.  Manhattanville plated four in the top of the third but the Devils tied it at 4-4 in their half of the third thanks to a RBI double by senior catcher Ricky Gathen, a RBI single from Adams, and a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman John Bowe.  The Valiants grabbed a 5-4 advantage in the top of the sixth but FDU got that run right back in the bottom of the sixth on a Manhattanville error.  Manhattanville went back on top, 6-5, in the top of the eighth but the Devils responded again, this time with two runs in their half of the eighth on a RBI single from Gathen and a wild pitch that junior first baseman Frank LaGuarina smartly scored on.  The Valiants wouldn't go away however, as they tied the game again with a lead-off home run in the top of the ninth before they grabbed a 9-7 lead in the top of the 10th.  In the bottom of the 10th, FDU got their first two batters of the inning on but the Valiants recorded the next two outs.  A single by Gathen loaded the bases and the Devils cut it to 9-8 when Core was hit by a pitch.  That brought Adams to the plate with the chance to be the hero, and he took full advantage by roping a single to center that scored two runs and gave FDU the win and a trip to the conference tournament for the eighth time in nine years.

Gathen finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBI while Adams went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and three RBI.  Core was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI, LaGuarina went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, and sophomore outfielder James Dertouzos was 2-for-4 with a stolen base, a triple, and three runs scored.  Junior pitcher Chris Roberts started and got a no-decision, tossing eight innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on 12 hits while striking out six.  Sophomore pitcher Ryan Thurnes got the win in relief, going two innings and allowing three runs on three hits.

The two squads return to action on Saturday, April 27, 2013, with a doubleheader at Manhattanville beginning at 1 pm.