MADISON, N.J. (April 3, 2019) – The FDU-Florham baseball team was edged by John Jay College 4-3 in non-conference action Wednesday. 

The Devils drop to 8-14 on the year, while the Bloodhounds move to 7-17.

Both teams struck for a run in their first at-bat of the day. The visitors stole four bases in the top of the first inning and used an RBI groundout to plate the opening of the day. The Devils answered in the bottom of the frame, as sophomore Matt Nodoro stroked a one-out double down the left field line. After moving up a bag on a groundout, sophomore AJ Yurista delivered an RBI single to score the sophomore.

The Bloodhounds added two runs in the second, scoring on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice. FDU cut the deficit in half in second, as junior Michael Tufano smacked a lead-off home run to make the score 3-2. Junior Arjun Alwis retired six straight hitters spanning the third and fourth innings, and the Devils leveled the game in the fourth. Sophomore Nate Peacock doubled with one out and brought home on a single to left-center by junior Kevin Smiegocki.

After allowing two base-runners in the fifth, Alwis settled down and fanned three of the six hitters he faced, keeping the score deadlocked at three all. The Bloodhounds took advantage of a pair of Devils fielding miscues in the eighth, breaking the tie and scoring an unearned run in the top half of the frame.

Junior Jonathan Biale gunned out a runner trying to steal third to close out the ninth, giving FDU one final chance for a run. Sophomore Chris Ciancimino worked a one-out walk and swiped second base to move into scoring position. A Billy Podurgiel single placed runners on the corners with two outs, but a groundout to third base closed out the game for John Jay.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•    Tufano hit his second home run of the season, taking over the team lead.
•    Nodoro was the lone Devil with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
•    Alwis went a career-high six innings, striking out a career-best eight Bloodhound batters.
•    Senior Chris Portelli worked the final two innings, striking out two hitters.

UP NEXT
The Devils are back in action on Friday, hosting Eastern University at 3:30 p.m. The game will be held at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex in Teaneck, N.J.