DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (March 18, 2019) - Junior Billy Podurgiel recorded two hits and two RBI's, but the FDU-Florham baseball team was topped by Delaware Valley 9-8 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play Monday.

The Devils fall to 5-7, 1-2 in the conference with, the Aggies improving to 2-1 in the MAC Freedom.

Sophomore Jeremy Bello earned the start for FDU and pitched 1-2-3 first inning. The Devils loaded the bases with two down in the second after walks by Tyler McCulloch and Nate Peacock along with Joe Moskowitz reaching on an error. The Devils couldn't scratch a run across, as a groundout retired the side.

The two sides traded runs over the next two half innings, with senior Ian Havran scoring on an error. Havran was plunked with a pitch leading off the stanza and stole second before scoring on the error. FDU took their first lead of the day in the fourth, with freshman Michael Dell'Unto and Podurgiel leading off with consecutive singles. Dell'Unto came around to score on an error after junior Kevin Smiegocki reached on a fielder's choice.

The Aggies regained the edge in the home half of the fourth, scoring three times on two hits with two outs. FDU counter-punched again in the fifth as they netted three tallies of their own. Sophomore Matt Nodoro led off with a single through the left side and swiped second. After advancing to third on an error, McCulloch knocked him in with a double to left. Moskowitz and Dell'Unto walked to fill the bases and Podurgiel delivered the big hit, a two-run knock up the middle to give FDU a 5-4 lead.

Sophomore Matthew Godlewski relieved Bello in the fifth and recorded a pair of fly-outs to escape a second and third, two-out jam. The Devils tacked on two runs in the sixth with Nodoro delivering a run-scoring double while junior Michael Tufano singled home Nodoro. The Aggies took advantage of a pair of fielding miscues in the home half of the sixth to score three times, leveling the game at seven entering the seventh inning.

Senior Chris Portelli pitched a perfect seventh inning, and FDU retook the lead in the eighth. Nodoro collected his third hit of the day with a single to left and moved to second on a bunt by Tufano. After McCulloch reached on an error to put runners on second and third, Moskowitz singled up the gut to score Nodoro. The Devils were unable to inflict any more damage, as a pickoff and ground out retired the side.

The hosts evened the score at eight in the bottom of the inning, scoring an unearned run on an RBI groundout. The Devils couldn't score in the ninth, giving the Aggies a chance at a walk-off opportunity. Portelli got the first two outs, but an infield hit and an intentional walk placed runners on first and second. Delaware Valley scored the final run of the game on an error after the free pass to end the game 9-8 in their favor.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The same day he was chosen as the MAC Freedom Player of the Week, McCulloch went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Nodoro collected a career-high three hits while also scoring three times.
• Podurgiel finished the three-game series against the Aggies by going 6-for-10 with two RBI's and three runs scored.
• Portelli fanned two over 2 2/3 innings and allowed two hits and two runs (no earned).
• Havran swiped a pair of bases, raising his total to four this season. 

UP NEXT
The Devils return to MAC Freedom play on Friday, taking on Misericordia at 3:30 p.m. in Dallas, Pa.