YAPHANK, N.Y. – Three Devils combined for nine hits to help push the FDU-Florham baseball team past St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) 11-2 on Monday afternoon in Yaphank, N.Y.  

With several players contributing in the win for the Devils (3-13), it was the two freshmen, Christopher Franco (Wayne, N.J.) and Kenny Carrier (Freehold, N.J.) who stood out with their exceptional play.  Franco went 2-for-5 at the plate and hit his first career grand slam, while Carrier tossed a strong five innings, only allowing two runs and striking out four.

In the fourth inning, the Devils struck first when Nick Meoli (East Meadow, N.Y.) doubled to deep center field. Meoli eventually came around to score the first run of the game. Following the Meoli score, Vinny Bonaccorso (Toms River, N.J.) singled up the middle for the first of his three hits of the afternoon. With back-to-back singles from Franco and Nick DeAngelis (East Hanover, N.J.), the Devils added one more run to take a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Chris Cutrone singled up the middle for the Bears and after finding himself on second base, he stole third and later scored on a Nicholas LoPrinzi RBI single to right. Cutrone and LoPrinzi combined for six of the 12 hits by the Bears.

Holding on to a one-run lead entering the fifth, the Devils bats got red hot. Frankie Tassielli (Florham Park, N.J.) started the offensive outburst with a double to center. Two batters later, James Deztouzos (Waldwick, N.J.) followed with a double to center and the knock brought Tassielli in to score. Meoli then came up and notched his second hit of the game with an RBI single through the left side.

Alex Geramita (Old Tappan, N.J.) added to the barrage with an RBI single of his own to give the Devils a 5-1 advantage. The senior catcher went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Bonaccorso stepped up to plate a few batters later and drew a walk to load the bases for Franco, who came through with a grand slam over the left field fence. The Bears went on to add a run in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all they were able to muster against Carrier.

Justin White (Westfield, N.J.) and Walter Pennett (Watchung, N.J.) combined to throw four scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Devils after Carrier was replaced on the mound.

With a 9-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth, the Devils managed to tack on two more runs after Tassielli came up with the bases loaded and picked up his third hit of the afternoon, bringing in two runs on a single to right field.

FDU-Florham will saddle up for a Freedom Conference matchup against the DeSales University Bulldogs on Friday, April 10, in Center Valley, Pa. at 3:30 p.m.