KINGSTON, Pa. (April 27, 2019) – The FDU-Florham baseball team picked up a 7-5 extra-inning win over Wilkes University before falling 11-10 in the nightcap Saturday.

The Devils close out the season with a 13-26 record, including a 6-15 mark in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom. Wilkes was 15-20 overall, 8-13 in the conference.

GAME 1: FDU-Florham 7, Wilkes 5 (Nine Innings)
FDU fell behind early, as a solo home run in the bottom of the second put the hosts on top 1-0. The Devils threatened in the top of the third as they put two runners on with one out. A fielder's choice and a fly out prevented any run of crossing the plate.

The Colonel lead grew to three, as they scored twice in the bottom of third on three hits. The Devils whittled the lead down to a two-run deficit in the fifth thanks to a two-out rally. Sophomores Nate Peacock and Matt Nodoro walked while classmate Chris Ciancimino singled to load the bases. Junior Jonathan Biale was up next and singled in Peacock with a single to left field. Wilkes got that run back in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to left.

Trailing by three with just two innings to go, the Devils trimmed a run off the gap in the sixth. Rookie Tyler McCulloch smacked a one-out double to centerfield before sophomore Joe Moskowitz walked. Junior Kevin Smiegocki came on as a pinch-hitter and stroked a run-scoring double to right-center to plate McCulloch.

Senior Chris Portelli came on to pitch the sixth and got the final out with strikeouts, giving FDU one chance to tie the game and force extra innings. The Devils did just that, starting with a bunt single from Nodoro. Biale walked and two batters later, rookie Brian Schnack earned a free pass to load the bases. McCulloch reached on an error by the left fielder, allowing both Biale and Nodoro to score. 

After Portelli set the Colonels down in order in the eighth, the Devils took the lead for the first time. Nodoro drew a two-out walk and moved to third on a two-bagger from Biale. Nodoro crossed home on a wild pitch, pushing FDU in front 5-4. Wilkes didn't go away, forcing an additional inning by scoring in the bottom of the eighth. The damage was limited, as Portelli got a comebacker to the mound with the winning run on second.

FDU pushed across what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the ninth. With two outs, Moskowitz and freshman Bobby Hefferon walked before moving up a base each on a wild pitch. Peacock would reach on an error by the right fielder, allowing both men to score. The Colonels made it interesting in the bottom of the inning against senior Joseph DeFeo, loading the bases with two outs. The senior struck out the final batter to close out the game, giving FDU the win.

GAME 2: Wilkes 11, FDU-Florham 10
The Devils fell behind early again, giving up seven runs in the first three innings. Of the seven tallies, only two of them were earned. The Devils scored one of their own in the third as Peacock hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Moskowitz. Moskowitz had reached on a one-out single to left field.

FDU put up a five-spot in the top of the fifth, pulling to within one run. Moskowitz doubled to left center before Hefferon beat out an infield hit to third base. A Peacock walk loaded the bags before junior Michael Tufano home two runs with a knock up the middle. Freshman Michael Dell'Unto and sophomore AJ Yurista went back-to-back with RBI singles, cutting the deficit to two. Smiegocki brought home the final run of the inning, lifting a sacrifice fly to right field.

Wilkes loaded the bases up in the bottom of the fifth with one out, but senior Will Lapham was able to get a double-play to prevent any runs from scoring. The Devils had another big inning in the sixth, putting up four runs on just one hit. Hefferon collected the lone hit of the frame leading off, doubling to left before moving to third on a wild pitch. Peacock walked and stole second, and the throw sailed into the outfield allowing Hefferon to score. Tufano and Nodoro walked to fill the bases once again before Yurista also drew a free pass to score Peacock. Smiegocki hit his second sac fly of the game for an additional run before Moskowitz walked to score Nodoro.

The Colonels took the lead back in the bottom of the inning, scoring four of their own. The final two tallies of the inning were unearned, as a throwing error allowed both runners to score. Still, the Devils one last opportunity to make a comeback. With one out, Tufano doubled to left-center. Pinch-runner Billy Podurgiel ran for Tufano, and sophomore Hakim Hamer singled through the left side. Podurgiel came around third but a great by the left fielder beat Podurgiel, and he was tagged out for the final run of the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•    Hefferon had the first three-hit game of his career, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the second contest.
•    Rookie Kyle Nepton struck out five in three innings in the opener, allowing three runs on six hits.
•    Portelli earned his fourth victory of the season, tossing three innings.
•    Tufano, Yurista, and Moskowitz all had two hits in the nightcap.