JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The FDU-Florham baseball team was blanked 10-0 by the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights at Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex on Tuesday afternoon.
The Devils (6-16, 4-6 Freedom) were limited to just two base hits by NJCU (11-12) starting pitcher
Jason Szurlej.Szurlej, a freshman right-hander, kept the Devils offense off balance all afternoon en route to a complete game, shutout with two strike outs.
The Gothic Knights put up a six-spot in the first frame off of FDU-Florham starter
Tyler Keefe (Roxbury, N.J.). Three-straight NJCU singles and a pair of errors sparked the rally for the home team. In total, the six runs came on six hits, highlighted by
Nick Ruscingo's two-run double.
The second inning started well for the Devils, as reigning ECAC South Region Player of the Week and Freedom Conference Player of the Week
Nick Meoli (East Meadow, N.Y.) led off with a single and advanced into scoring position with his third steal of the campaign. After allowing a
Vinny Bonaccorso (Toms River, N.J.) walk, Szurlej settled down and retired the next three Devils in order to escape the jam.
In the home second, the Gothic Knights' bats went back to work with four more hits and two runs, equating to an 8-0 lead.
Szurlej was aided by some stellar defense from center fielder
Michael Martucci. Martucci took an extra base hit away from FDU-Florham left fielder James Dertouzos (Waldwick, N.J.) in the third before robbing Devils' leadoff man
Frankie Tassielli (Florham Park, N.J.) of a sure double with a leaping catch in front of the center field fence in the fourth.
Freshman right-hander
Ian Romano (Davie, Fla.) came on in relief of Keefe in the third inning and pitched four frames, allowing two runs and striking out one before giving way to
Parker Beck (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in the seventh and
Michael Crowe in the eighth.
Beck and Crowe each held the Gothic Knights scoreless in their respective collegiate debuts.
Tassielli and Meoli were responsible for the Devils two hits, each finishing 1-for-4 in the loss.
Alex Weinstein led the charge for the Gothic Knights with a 3-for-4 day, including three runs, while
Zach Buchholz went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the victory.
The Devils continue their busy week when they head to Delaware Valley University, tomorrow April 15 at 3:30 p.m. in a Freedom Conference showdown.