FLEMINGTON, N.J. – The FDU-Florham baseball team held a 7-4 lead but was unable to hold off the Centenary Cyclones, ultimately falling 9-7 on Tuesday afternoon at Diamond Nation.
FDU-Florham (0-2) freshman first baseman Christopher Franco (Wayne, N.J) launched his first career home run in the loss as the Cyclones (1-0) pulled out the come-from-behind victory in their season debut.

Leadoff man Frankie Tassielli (Florham Park, N.J.) opened the game with a leadoff double but was left stranded on second base when Centenary starter Jimmy Kraivec retired the next three Devils in order.

The game remained scoreless entering the third frame, when FDU-Florham backstop Kevin Sinclair (Fairfield, Conn.) reached on a one-out walk. Sinclair reached base three times in the game, all courtesy of the base on balls. Sinclair advanced to second on a base hit by James Dertouzos (Waldwick, N.J.) and then scored when the Cyclones misplayed an infield fly.

Centenary broke through and evened the score in the bottom of the third on a solo blast by Ryan Caparoni. Then Franco put the Devils back in front by yanking his homer over the left field fence.

The Devils added to their lead in the top of the fifth when designated hitter Alex Geramita (Old Tappan, N.J.) plated Sinclair with a sac fly to right, however, the Cyclones warmed up in the bottom of the inning.

A hit batsman, a walk, and three wild pitches scored a run and set the table for the Cyclones to have a big inning. Dave Raifsnider delivered first with an RBI-single, which ended Hofmann's afternoon. Centenary's Ryan Kanner was next and he came through with a pinch-hit double to centerfield off of FDU-Florham reliever Matt Zingaro (Manchester Township, N.J.), which put the Cyclones on top 4-3. The final out of the inning was made at the plate on a great relay from Devils shortstop Nick DeAngelis (East Hanover, N.J.).

After a quiet sixth inning, the seventh frame saw nine runs cross the plate. In the top half of the seventh, Sinclair drew a walk, stole second and scored following an infield hit by Dertouzos and a throwing error by the Cyclones pitcher. Dertouzos later scored on an error by the Cyclones catcher.

DeAngelis knocked in Nick Meoli (East Meadow, N.Y.) with an opposite-field single and FDU-Florham tacked on one more thanks to a bases loaded walk by sophomore Dylan DiPolvere (Toms River, N.J.) and led 7-4.

The Cylones responded with five runs in the home half of the inning and took the lead for good. Sophomore Nick Daniele banked two runs with a double, and then two more scored on a double by Rafsnider before he came around and scored the Cyclones' ninth run on a Devils' error.

FDU-Florham threatened with two men on in the eighth but was unable to counter and Chad Frankefield came on to close the game out in the ninth for the Cyclones.

Eric Thorpe walked three and gave up a run but earned the win for Centenary, while Zingaro was on the long side for the Devils.

In the loss, Meoli went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Franco went 2-for-4 with a run and the RBI.

Raifsnider had a big afternoon for the Cyclones finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs, while Daniele finished 2-for-4 with a two RBI and a run scored.

FDU-Florham heads down to Florida for their annual spring break trip, where they will play seven games. The Devils open up with a doubleheader this Saturday, March 14 against St. Norbert College at 2:30 p.m.