Box Score MADISON, N.J. – The FDU-Florham baseball team dropped their final regular season contest of the season 7-4 to New Jersey City University on Tuesday afternoon.

The Devils (21-15) fell behind 7-0, and despite some late-inning scoring, were unable to overcome the large deficit. Gothic Knights' left-hander Delio Coutinho was outstanding and tossed seven innings, allowed one unearned run, while striking out eight to earn his fifth victory of the season.

In the bottom of the first, FDU-Florham threatened after a single by Brandan Adams (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) and a double by senior first baseman Frank LaGuarina (Somerset, N.J./Immacualata). The next batter sophomore Bryan Pieschel (Stamford, Conn./Westhill), smoked a line drive, however, it was right at the NJCU shortstop and Coutinho escaped the jam.

In the top of the second, NJCU (13-25) grabbed a 1-0 lead with a run-scoring single by Nick Ruscingno. The Gothic Knights picked up two more runs in the fifth, thanks to a sacrifice fly and an RBI-single by freshman Eric Giordano and led 3-0.

The Gothic Knights broke the game open in the seventh inning with four runs on six hits. The damage came courtesy of four RBI-singles and a run-scoring double, which built the NJCU lead to 7-0. In the home half of the inning, the Devils finally broke through when sophomore Frankie Tassielli (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park) plated a run with a sacrifice fly.

FDU-Florham netted two more runs in the eighth and cut the deficit to 7-3. Down to their final out in the bottom of the ninth, the Devils got two men aboard. Next, Adams delivered with an RBI-double, which brought LaGuarina to the plate representing the tying run. Unfortunately, NJCU reliever Kevin DeMauro managed to strike out the Devils first baseman, which ended the ballgame.

The Devils used eight pitchers in the game, bookended by starter AJ Pichalski (Iselin, N.J./JFK) and junior reliever Bobby Bray (Fairfax, Va./Robinson). Pichalski tossed three innings, allowed three hits and one run and took the loss, which dropped his record to 2-2 on the year.

Offensively, Adams paced the Devils with a 4-for-5 day, including a run scored and an RBI, while LaGuarina went 2-for-5 with a run. The two seniors were responsible for six of FDU-Florham's seven hits in the contest.

Ruscingno led the Gothic Knights by going 3-for-5 with two RBI, as NJCU totaled 15 hits in the victory.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham will host the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament this Friday, May 9^th against Purchase College. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. in Madison.