PATCHOGUE, N.Y. - -The FDU-Florham softball team scored two runs in the seventh inning to take the opening game of their doubleheader at St. Joseph's College (Long Island) but the Golden Eagles pulled out some late-game heroics to steal the nightcap and earn a split on Wednesday evening at the SJC Outdoor Complex.

FDU-Florham freshman third baseman Taylor Torre (Matawan, N.J.) launched the first two home runs of her collegiate career to lead the Devils to the 8-6 game one victory. Torre knocked in three runs and scored twice, all single-game highs for the first-year infielder.

Junior second baseman Nikki Caruso (Madison, N.J.) went 5-for-8 in the twinbill including a red-hot 4-for-5 effort in the first-game victory.

The game two loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Devils (6-10, 4-2 Freedom), who dropped both games at St. Joseph's (12-9) last season.

After three scoreless frames, Torre launched her first collegiate homer and gave the Devils a 1-0 lead, but the Eagles responded in the home half of the inning with a run of their own, which tied the game.

Torre put the Devils back in front with her second blast of the afternoon, this one also a solo shot and FDU-Florham led 2-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth.

Again, the Eagles countered in the bottom of the inning when Nicole Reda came through with a three-run double, which put the home team on top 4-3.

The see-saw battle would continue, as the Devils scored three runs in the top of the seventh on a run-scoring double by Michelle Mangini (West Babylon, N.Y.) and a pair of one-run singles by Jaclyn Herrington (Huntington, N.Y.) and Torre.

Eagles center fielder Julianna Tierney pulled her team even again with her first of two home runs on the day, this one a two-run blast off of FDU-Florham starter Sydney Worek (Bordentown, N.J.).

The Devils finally secured the victory in the eighth inning by tallying two runs. Caruso plated Frannie Jarin (Manahawkin, N.J.) with an RBI-double before Mangini scored Caruso with a single to center, equating to the 8-6 final. Worek captured the victory and improved to 2-0 on the campaign by tossing all eight innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, while striking out six.

In game two, both teams came out of the dugout ready to hit. After two Eagles' errors, resulting in one run, FDU-Florham junior Wynne McCann (Boyertown, Pa.) ripped a two-run triple down the right field line and put the Devils on top 3-0.

Tierney tied the game in the home half of the first with a three-run blast off of FDU-Florham starter Audrie Thomas (Belford, N.J.).

Both starters settled in and kept the offenses off of the board through the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles took advantage of two Devils' errors to net the go ahead run.

Tierney came through once again, this time with an RBI-single before Thomas escaped the jam with an inning-ending double play.

Trailing 5-3 in their final at bat, the Devils mounted their comeback. Pinch hitter Colleen Moriarty (New Rochelle, N.Y.) singled to center and advanced to second base on a passed ball.

Next, FDU-Florham leadoff hitter Marlena Bevilacqua (East Brunswick, N.J.) sent a triple to the gap in left-center field.  Caruso then plated Bevilacqua with a sacrifice fly, which tied the game at 5-5.

But, after a leadoff walk, a single and a passed ball the Eagles were set to steal the victory. Casey Thomas came through with the game-winning single, which salvaged the split for the home team.

FDU-Florham returns home for a doubleheader against Stockton University, tomorrow, April 9  with first pitch set for 3 p.m.