Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham baseball team posted a 4-3 record over its seven-game trip to Florida at this week's RussMatt Invitational.

The Devils (4-6) closed the trip on a high note by winning their final three games, including a doubleheader sweep of Knox College.

FDU-Florham's offense was in midseason form for the early season trip, as the Devils scored 10 or more runs in all four victories.

Saturday, March 12
FDU-Florham 14 (1-3), Massachussetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) 0 (1-2)
W: Brad Norris (1-0) L: Robert Jutras (0-1)
Box Score

The Devils wasted little time getting on the scoreboard jumping on MCLA (1-2) starter Robert Jutras.  A leadoff walk and a double put runners on second and third, setting the table for senior center fielder Frankie Tassielli. Tassielli promptly launched a three-run homer over the left field fence for a quick 3-0 lead. Following another walk and a stolen base, FDU-Florham added another on an RBI-single off the bat of Vinnie Bonaccorso to make it 4-0.

The Trailblazers' best opportunity came in the home fourth when Billy Pulasky slapped a leadoff single and advanced to second on an error but the Devils' defense thwarted the threat by nabbing Pulasky at the plate after he attempted to score on a groundout.d flash some leather though, cutting him down at the plate after he attempted to score on a groundout. 

An eight-run barrage in the sixth inning highlighted by a two-run double from Franco broke the game wide open and all but sealed the victory for FDU-Florham.

Junior infielder Nick DeAngelis led the Devils with a 3-for-4 showing. DeAngelis scored twice and knocked in a run, while Tassielli reach base all five times including three walks, while plating three runs and scoring three times. In total, the Devils collected 11 hits and took advantage of 12 free passes.

In his first collegiate outing, Brad Norris tossed a solid five innings, allowing four hits, striking out two to earn the win.

Sunday, March 13
Game 1: FDU-Florham 8 (1-4), Springfield College 12 (1-0)
W: Ken Manero (1-0) L: Walter Pennet (0-1) S: Mitchell Goldman (1)
Box Score

Andrew Hille got the start for the Devils and tossed three innings, allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out six. Senior centerfielder Frankie Tassielli launched two home runs in the loss.

The Devils struck first by taking advantage of an error by the Pride for 1-0 lead. Springfield responded with three runs in the home second highlighted by a two-run double from Corey Wilcox.

In the top of the third, the Devils fought back to tie the game at three with RBI-singles from Bryan Pieschel and Christopher Franco. Then in the top half of the fourth, following Nick DeAngelis Jr.'s RBI-double, senior center fielder Frankie Tassielli launched a three-run blast, which gave the Devils a 7-4 lead.

In the Devils' sixth, Tassielli jacked his second home run of the game, which resulted in an 8-4 FDU-Florham lead, however, the Pride counterpunched in their half of the frame.

Back-to-back two-run knocks by Mike Jamieson and Matt Fraioli evened the score at 8-8 before Mark Joao hit a game-winning grand slam to secure the victory for Springfield.
 
Game 2: FDU-Florham 4 (1-5), Springfield College 11 (2-0)
W: Dan Green (1-0) L: Matt Zingaro (0-2)
Box Score

The Pride jumped on the Devils with a five-run second inning with Wilcox's two-run single providing the key blow.

FDU-Florham got one run back when Tassielli plated DeAngelis Jr. with a single but Wilcox was just getting started for Springfield.

The senior outfielder knocked an RBI-double in the fourth and a three-run double in the fifth, which broke open a 9-1 Pride lead.

FDU-Florham scored a pair in the seventh with a Reynaldo Diaz sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double by Garrett Ruoff but it was too little, too late as the Pride held on for the win.
 
 
Monday, March 14
FDU-Florham 3 (1-6), McDaniel College 12 (9-1)
W: Ben Van Put (1-0) L: Kenny Carrier (0-2)
Box Score

The Green Terror led 4-0 through three innings of play before Tassielli crossed the plate with the Devils' first run in the home third.

A two-run triple and a sac fly increased McDaniel's lead to 7-1 after five innings and a three-run ninth inning put the game out of reach, resulting in the 12-3 final.

Vinny Bonaccorso finished 2-for-4 with two RBI in the loss, while Sam Coutoufos also contributed with a multi-hit game for FDU-Florham.


Wednesday, March 16
Game 1: FDU-Florham 13 (2-6), Knox College 9 (0-4)
W: Walter Pennett (1-1) L: Scott Fuchs (0-1)
Box Score

The Devils erased an 8-1 deficit by exploding for six runs in the fifth inning and six more in the sixth to take the victory from the Prairie Fire.
Tassielli, who was red-hot throughout the trip, started the fifth-inning comeback with his fifth home run of the season, a two-run bomb, which made it an 8-3 game.

The Devils offense followed with run-scoring singles by Bonaccorso and Coutoufos before Christopher Franco crossed the plate as the tying run on a sacrifice fly.

The momentum continued into the sixth inning where Josh DellaPietro and Pieschel each plated a run. Then Diaz smacked a two-run single. The Devils tacked on two more with RBI's from Coutoufos and DellaPietro, which stretched the cushion to 13-8.

Pennett tossed one inning of scoreless relief to earn the victory, facing four batters and allowing one base hit. Pieschel highlighted a 12-hit day for the Devils with a 3-for-3 performance including two runs scored.

Game 2: FDU-Florham 10 (3-6), Knox College 9 (0-5)
W: Will Lapham (2-1) L: Jack Barreca (0-1)
Box Score

Game two saw the Devils come from behind once again, this time overcoming a 5-1, first inning deficit to get back into the game.

Diaz set off a four-run second frame with a solo blast for his first home run of the season. A ground out produced another run for FDU-Florham, then Bonaccorso scored two more with a triple, which evened the game at 5-5.

After the Prairie Fire regained the lead with a pair of runs in the home second, the Devils countered with a three-run fifth, highlighted by Ben Thompson's two-RBI single that gave the Devils an 8-7 edge.

Knox again moved in front with a run in the fifth and one in the sixth before the Devils took the lead for good with a pair of tallies in the top of the seventh.

Kevin Sinclair knocked in what proved to be game-tying run with a two-out single before he came around to score the winning run following a defensive miscue by Knox.

Trey Congleton came on in the bottom of the seventh and pitched a scoreless frame to earn his first save of the campaign.

Thursday, March 17
FDU-Florham 12 (4-6), Plattsburgh State 10 (2-12)
W: Matt Zingaro (1-2) L: Andrew Kramer (0-4)
Box Score

The Devils closed their trip on Thursday with another high-scoring affair and another thrilling comeback.

FDU-Florham trailed 10-4 heading to the fifth inning before they scored eight unanswered runs over the next three frames to secure the victory.

Hitting out of the leadoff spot, senior backstop Kevin Sinclair led the way for the Devils with a 4-for-5 performance including two runs and two RBI. Pieschel went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, while Diaz knocked in three on the day.

Matt Zingaro came on in relief and quieted the Cardinals' bats. The sophomore lefthander registered four scoreless frames and struck out three to secure his first victory of the season.

FDU-Florham returns to action this Saturday, March 19 when they visit conference foe Delaware Valley University for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.