DALLAS, Pa. – The FDU-Florham baseball team held onto a one run lead until the Misericordia University Cougars' bats came alive in the fifth inning and trumped the Devils 5-1 in a Freedom Conference showdown Friday afternoon in Dallas, Pa.

The Devils (1-10, 0-1 Freedom) loaded the bases up after drawing three walks in the top of the second. With two outs, Frankie Tassielli (Florham Park, N.J.) drew a full count and was walked to bring in the Devils' lone run of the afternoon.

Senior A.J. Pichalski (Iselin, N.J.) got the start on the mound for FDU-Florham and he had to face  a talented Cougars (10-1, 1-0 Freedom) lineup. Pichalski cruised through the first four innings, allowing just three hits. However, in the bottom of the fifth, D.J. Navoczynsk led off the inning with a single into left for Misericordia. The very next batter, Steve Cuccio, took a pitch and sent it over the left field fence for a two-run home run.

The Cougars were not done and after Jeremy DeCottis reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, he came around to score on a Chris Boroch RBI single to right. Nick Hair followed up the Boroch single with an RBI double to right center. Hair advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error by the Devils.

Trailing 5-1 heading into the top of the sixth, Vinny Bonaccorso (Toms River, N.J.) drew a walk and just two batters later, Nick DeAngelis (East Hanover, N.J.) singled down the right field line. Josh DellaPietro (Bayville, N.J.) then stepped up to the plate with runners on first and third but the Cougars got Bonaccorso out at home on the fielder's choice to prevent the run from scoring.

The Devils were held hitless the remainder of the game once Garrett Pelko came in to pitch in the seventh inning for the Cougars.

FDU-Florham will resume play on Sunday, March 29, when they welcome the Misericordia Cougars to Madison for a double header matchup that is set to start at 1 p.m.