FT. MYERS, Fla. (March 11, 2019) – Freshman Tyler McCulloch drove in eight runs over two games as the FDU-Florham baseball team split with Plymouth State University Monday.

The Devils are currently 3-3 on the season, while Plymouth State is 3-2.

GAME 1: Plymouth State 13, FDU-Florham 8

The Panthers, who were the visiting team in game one, exploded for five runs in their first at-bat. They were able to take advantage of six walks and two hit batters to take the early 5-0 lead. The Devils chipped away at the deficit, scoring twice in their opening frame. Senior Kevin Smiegocki hit a one-out single, and sophomore Matt Nodoro was hit with a pitch. Senior Ian Havran hit a ball that was unable to be fielded cleanly by the left fielder, as both runners crossed the dish.

After the Panthers tacked on four tallies in the second, the Devils bullpen buckled down and held Plymouth State scoreless over the next two innings. A solo home-run extended the lead to 10-2 before the Devils added four in the home half of the fifth. Smiegocki started the two-out rally with a single before junior Jonathan Biale was hit by a pitch. After a passed ball moved the runners up, Nodoro belted a triple to left-center to score both. Havran singled home Nodoro and swiped second to move into scoring position. McCulloch capped off the inning with a ribbie single into centerfield.

The Panthers closed out their day with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, leading 13-6 going into the final half-inning. Nodoro brought the Devils a run closer, lacing a home-run to left field. After a Havran single, McCulloch drove a double to left-center, allowing the speedster Havran to score from first. FDU was unable to get any closer, as the final out was recorded on a fly out.

GAME 2: FDU-Florham 8, Plymouth State 7
Plymouth State once again struck first, hitting a three-run homer to right field to build a 3-0 lead after one. Havran led off the top of the second with a bunt single and raced home on a double from McCulloch. The Panthers countered with a tally of their own in the second, regaining the three-run margin.

The Devils bats came alive in the third, pounding out three hits and four runs. Junior Michael Tufano led off with a double down the left field line, while Smiegocki worked a walk. After a bunt moved the runners up, Nodoro singled in Tufano with a shot to left. Havran walked to load the bases, and the freshman McCulloch came up with the big hit of the frame, doubling home all three runners to give the Devils their first lead of the afternoon.

Sophomore Jeremy Bello set the Panthers down in the bottom of the third, but they leveled the game in the fourth courtesy of an unearned run. Bello walked the leadoff hitter in the fifth but promptly picked the man off, and no runs crossed the plate as the game moved toward the sixth. The Panthers recorded two runs in the sixth, thanks to a pair of sacrifice flies and led 7-5 entering the final stanza.

Walks to Biale and Havran with one out prompted a pitching change, and once again it was McCulloch who provided the heroics for the team. The Berkeley Heights, N.J. native doubled down the line in right, scoring both Biale and Havran to tie the game at seven. Entering as a pinch-hitter, sophomore Nate Peacock pushed the Devils in front with an RBI single at 8-7. Senior Joseph DeFeo came in and shut the door on the Panthers, striking out three of the four hitters he faced. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•    McCulloch went 5-for-6 with two walks while totaling the eight RBI's, including six in game two. The six RBI's were the most by a Devils player since Frank LaGuarina had six against Wilkes in 2012.
•    Nodoro had a triple and homer in game one, marking the second straight game he had two extra-base hits.
•    Freshmen Shea Griffin and Louis Scappaticcio each made their collegiate debuts in game one, each tossing one inning.
•    Senior Chris Portelli earned the victory in relief in game two, his second of the season.
•    DeFeo notched the first save of his career and has struck out five hitters in three innings of work this season.

UP NEXT
After a day off, FDU returns to the field Wednesday. They will take on Finlandia University in a doubleheader starting at 9 a.m.