Box Score MADISON, N.J. – The FDU-Florham baseball team rallied from eight runs down to tie the game but ultimately fell to cross-street rival Drew University 11-8 on Wednesday afternoon at Doc Young Field.

The Devils (17-11, 12-6 Freedom) nearly overcame eight errors to earn the victory but the Rangers (14-18, 7-7 Landmark) posted three runs in the bottom of the eighth and picked up the win.

In the loss, junior center fielder Frankie Tassielli (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park) launched two home runs and totaled three RBI. Tassielli is now 7-for-11 with six RBI and four runs scored in the Devils' last two outings.

Drew wasted no time jumping into the scoring column with five first-inning runs, highlighted by sophomore third baseman Mike Klingler's three-run triple. The Rangers tacked on three more in the bottom of the second inning to stake an 8-0 lead through two.

In the top of the third, Tassielli netted FDU-Florham's first run with a solo blast over the left field fence. Then, Devils designated hitter Ben Lyman (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) plated a run with a single and cut the deficit to six.

Tassielli's second homer, a two run shot in the top of the fourth, cut the Ranger lead in half at 8-4. Meanwhile, FDU-Florham freshman right-hander Tyler Keefe (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) was settling into a groove. After allowing eight runs through the first two frames (four earned), the 6'3" freshman held the Rangers scoreless over the next three innings.

Keefe's work allowed the Devils to continue their comeback. Following a single and a walk, FDU-Florham sophomore Bryan Pieschel (Stamford, Conn./Westhill) knocked in a run with a base hit through the right side. After a sacrifice fly, Tom Halter (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./St. Mary's) hammered a double to right center field which scored Pieschel. Two batters later, senior shortstop Brandan Adams' (Jackson, N.J./Jackson) fly out to left tied the game at 8-8.

Unfortunately, FDU-Florham was unable to score again and in the bottom of the eighth inning Klingler's single through the right side put the Rangers on top for good. The Devils eighth error of the contest allowed two more runs to score, which resulted in the 11-8 final.

The loss snaps the Devils four-game winning streak over the Rangers. In addition to Tassielli, Pieschel, Adams and junior catcher Alex Geramita (Old Tappan, N.J./Don Bosco) also had success at the plate and each tallied two hits in defeat. With the two long balls, Tassielli now has a team-high four homers on the season.

Klingler paced the Rangers attack with three hits and four RBI, while freshman Jonathan Rodrigues chipped in with two knocks in the win.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham continues their six-game, four-day stretch when they host St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) tomorrow, April 24^th at 3:30 p.m.