FLEMINGTON, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham baseball team dropped both games of its doubleheader to Centenary College 2-1 and 15-3 on Sunday afternoon at Jack Cust Baseball Academy.
The Devils (0-3) struggled to generate offense against the Cyclones' (2-3) pitching staff. Andrew Hille and Kenny Carrier pitched well in game one but were outdueled by Centenary's Trey Hinkle.
In game two, the Cyclones used a 14-run fifth inning to take the lead and break the game open.
Game 1: Centenary 2, FDU-Florham 1
After missing last season with an injury, right hander Andrew Hille made his 2016 debut and pitched well, tossing three scoreless innings, while striking out three and allowing one hit.
Bryan Pieschel set the stage for the game's first run by lacing a double down the right field line. Pieschel later crossed the on a Kevin Sinclair's RBI-single for a 1-0 Devils' lead.
Kenny Carrier and the Devils held that lead until the bottom of the sixth when the Cyclones' manufactured some offense. A hit by pitch, bunt-single and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Junior infielder Nick Daniele tied the game with a sac fly to right before Kevin Sensale netted the go-ahead run with a two-out single through the left side.
Sinclair reached in the top of the seventh but Hinkle stranded him to earn the victory for Centenary.
Game 2: Centenary 15, FDU-Florham 3
Matt Zingaro started game two for FDU-Florham in the second game and yielded a run in the second inning after a pair of soft singles and two sacrifices by Centenary.
The Devils struck back in the top of the fourth with some two-out magic. Diego Espinosa and Joseph Bonaccorso each reached with knocks before Nick DeAngelis and Pieschel delivered one and two-RBI singles, respectively, resulting in a 3-1 Devils' lead.
Trailing 3-1 in the home fifth, the Cyclones turned the game upside down with 14 runs on 12 hits, while batting around in the frame. The big blows came from Daniele, who launched a three-run homer and knocked a three-run double in the massive inning.
The Devils went quietly after the Cyclones' outburst as Centenary's Jimmy Kraivec picked up the win. Kraivec went five innings, allowing three runs and nine hits, while striking out six before he was relieved by Ryan St. John and Luis Santiago in the final two innings.
FDU-Florham now has six days off before its annual Florida Spring Trip, which begins on Saturday, March 12 against Massachussetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in Auburndale, Fla. The Devils will play seven games over the five-day trip.
