TEANECK, N.J. (April 6, 2019) - The FDU-Florham baseball team fell in 10 innings to conference opponent Eastern University 5-3, Saturday afternoon at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.

The Devils jumped out to an early 1-0 after an RBI single to center by sophomore Nate Peacock. Sophomore Matt Nodoro set up the RBI situation for Peacock with a single up the middle followed by stealing second to put him in scoring position. With first base open, freshmen Tyler McCulloch worked a walk to put two on with only one out. Next, up, sophomore AJ Yurista moved the runners over with a groundball to second which set up the Peacock RBI knock. 

Freshman Kyle Nepton controlled the first four innings only allowing just a pair of base runners, but neither reached scoring position. However, after allowing a lead-off single in the fifth, Nepton found himself in some trouble. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second. An error allowed the runner to advance to third base with one out. Nepton was able to strike out the next batter, but a walk and then a triple brought in two runs to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead after five.

The Devils found themselves in trouble again in the top of the sixth. Senior Brad Norris entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out and was able to get out the inning on four pitches. The first batter hit a shallow fly ball to right field that didn't drive in the runner from third and then Norris was able to get the next batter to hit into an inning-ending double play to keep the score at 2-1. 

FDU-Florham took advantage of the momentum from Norris' big inning by tying the score in the next half inning. Peacock started the inning with a double down the left field line. Pinch-hitter Ian Havran laid down a sacrifice bunt to the first basemen to move Peacock over to third with one out. Junior Kevin Smiegocki fell behind 1-2 but worked his way to a full count before hitting a fly ball to right field, deep enough to bring in Peacock and tie the game at two after six innings.

The Eagles reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth inning making it 3-2. In the bottom half of the inning, the first two devils reached on singles which made it first and second with nobody out. However, the Devils were unable to knock the hit they were looking for, as three groundballs in the infield stifled the comeback attempt in the bottom of the eighth.

The Devils were able to get runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth which gave sophomore Chris Ciancimino the opportunity to play hero for the Devils. Ciancimino who enter the game as a pinch-runner earlier found himself as the last chance for the Devils and delivered with a single to center field which brought in the tying run. Yurista almost walked it off for the Devils, but a diving catch by the Eagles centerfielder sent us into extra innings. 

The Eagles broke the tie with two tallies in the top of the 10th, both coming with one out. The Devils put the tying run on base in the home half of the frame, but a 4-6-3 double-play closed out the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•    Peacock notched his 18th RBI of the season which is tied for second-most on the team. 
•    Nodoro, Yurista, and Peacock each notched two hits.
•    Senior Chris Portelli worked 1 1/3 innings, striking out two while not allowing a base-runner.

UP NEXT
The Devils continue their series tomorrow, traveling to Eastern for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.