UNION, N.J. (February 24, 2018) - Senior Reynaldo Diaz hit a three-run home run, but the FDU baseball team fell to in-state rival Kean 8-4 Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars improved to 4-0, while the Devils drop to 0-1 in the season-opener.

Despite putting runners on base in each of the first two innings, the Devils were unable to scratch across any runs. In the third, senior Nick DeAngelis Jr. singled to left and moved into scoring position on a passed ball before freshman AJ Yurista worked a walk. Diaz came up and belted a three-run home run to left field.

Senior Kenny Carrier started, allowing four hits in three innings before giving way to Brad Norris. Norris surrendered an unearned run in his three frames, giving up two hits with one strikeout.

The Devils tacked on a run in fifth, as Yurista and Diaz hit back-to-back singles, putting men on first and second with two out. Senior Ben Dranow liked the first pitch he saw and singled down the right field line, scoring Yurista.

The score held in the Devils favor until the bottom of the seventh inning. Kean sent 10 men to the plate, scoring six runs on six hits to take the lead for the good. The host Cougars added an insurance run in the eighth to establish the four-run margin. FDU had one final chance in the ninth, but went down 1-2-3.

Diaz and DeAngelis Jr. each had two hits, while Yurista scored twice in his collegiate debut. Freshman Christian Capuano took the loss, allowing six runs while striking out one in his one inning of work.

The Devils will be back in action on March 4, taking on Purchase College in a double-header beginning at 1 p.m.