ST. DAVIDS, Pa. (April 7, 2019) - The FDU-Florham baseball pitching staff allowed just three runs over 14 innings as the Devils swept Eastern 6-1 and 4-2 Sunday.
FDU improves to 10-15, 4-8 within the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom. Eastern drops to 8-17, 4-7 in the MAC Freedom.
GAME 1: FDU-Florham 6, Eastern 1
Sophomore
Joseph Kastner and the Eastern hurler were engaged in a pitchers duel over the first five frames, as neither side could push a run across. Kastner allowed just two hits over that time, while the Devils best chance came in the third inning. Sophomore
Matt Nodoro laced a one-out double to center, and classmate
Nate Peacock walked. After a stolen base moved the runners up a bag, sophomore
AJ Yurista lined into an inning-ending 6-4 double play.
The Devils broke through in a big way in the sixth, plating six runs. Peacock singled with one down before freshman
Tyler McCulloch and junior
Kevin Smiegocki walked to load the bases. Rookie
Brian Schnack came up as a pinch-hitter and was hit with a pitch, bringing Peacock home. McCulloch scooted home on an errant pickoff to bring the score 2-0 before junior
Michael Tufano sent a pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run blast. The Devils weren't done, as freshman
Bobby Hefferon doubled before junior Billy Podurigel singled him home.
The hosts got a run back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double, but Kastner closed the book on his outing by getting a strikeout with runners on first and second to end the sixth. Senior
Chris Portelli entered in the seventh and set the Eagles down in order, finishing the contest with a groundout to third.
GAME 2: FDU-Florham 4, Eastern 2
The Eagles did their damage in the first inning, scoring two runs on three hits. Seniors
Kevin Brown,
Brad Norris and
Joseph DeFeo along with sophomore
Matthew Godlewski didn't allow a hit over the final six frames, putting just five baserunners on for the duration of the game.
FDU took the lead for good in the second, tallying three runs. Smiegocki led off with a single through the right side, and two batters later, Hefferon worked a walk. Podurgiel and Nodoro ripped consecutive doubles to drive in three runs. Brown retired eight straight batters spanning the third through fifth stanzas before putting two men on in the bottom of the fifth. Norris entered and closed out the frame with a ground ball to third.
The Devils added an insurance run in the sixth, as Tufano led off the inning with a single. After a bunt, Podurgiel singled to put runners on the corners. The Devils attempted a double-steal, with Tufano scoring as Podurgiel was thrown out in the attempt. Eastern sent the go-ahead run to the dish with one out in the seventh and final inning. DeFeo came in and a strikeout to end the game and hand the Devils the two-game sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kastner picked up his first win of the season, tossing a season-high six innings while allowing just four hits.
- Yurista and Podurgiel each four hits over the two games, with each going 3-for-3 in the nightcap.
- Tufano belted his team-leading third home run of the season in the opener.
- The bullpen of the Devils combined to throw 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief over the two games.
- DeFeo picked up his team-leading fourth save of the season, closing out game two.
UP NEXT
The Devils are back in action on Tuesday, traveling to take on New Jersey City University at 3:30 p.m.
