FORT MYERS, FL (March 8, 2020)-FDU Baseball started on a high note to begin the seven-day stint in the Sunshine State. The Devils swept Lakeland University improving to 3-3 overall on the season, while the Muskies drop to 1-2 overall. 

GAME 1: FDU 3, Lakeland 2
Sophomore DJ Gonnelli started on the mound for FDU pitching five scoreless innings.  Offensively, the Devils got the bats going in the top of the third, with Junior Nate Peacock starting the inning with a single to center field.  After advancing to second, Junior Matt Nodoro hit an RBI double down the left field line to put the Devils ahead 1-0.  The scoring continued in the fifth inning, with Peacock walking to first then stealing second. Senior Kevin Smiegocki hit a ground-ruled RBI double to put the Devils ahead 2-0.  After advancing to third on dirt ball read, the Muskies couldn't handle Junior AJ Yurista's RBI sac bunt, giving FDU a 3-0 lead.

The Muskies got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Trevor Meier led off with a walk and scored on Tyler LaMack's double to deep left center. They mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh when Jack Banks singled up the middle to bring Lakeland within one run, but a big diving catch from Peacock halted the rally before the final out was recorded on a fielder's choice. Senior John Franco got the save, his second of the season, working through the last inning for the Devils.

GAME 2: FDU 16, Lakeland 11
Runs came early and often for FDU to start the nightcap, as the Devils put up 15 runs in the first three innings to jump out to an early 15-3 lead. The Devils struck for four runs in the first inning, capitalizing on five walks, a hit by pitch and an error. The bats got going in the second inning when Nodoro got things started with a home run before the Devils put the pressure on. The next five Devils reached base, including back to back to back singles by Sophomore Tyler McCulloch, and freshmen classmates Ryan Toomey and Chris Kubas. Back to back hits from Peacock and Smiegocki made the score 11-2 after two. After the Muskies got one run back, the bottom of the third inning was much of the same as the Devils plated four more to go ahead 15-3, their largest lead of the game. Senior Michael Tufano came off the bench and delivered a big two run single during the rally.

Lakeland made things interesting when they scored six runs in the fifth. Four straight runners reached base to ignite the rally, capped off by Mason Valenstein and Collin Schutz's back to back doubles to make it 15-9, but freshman Anthony Molina-Porras came on in relief with a runner on and recorded the final out of the inning. Lakeland made another rally in the sixth, pushing two more across to make it 15-11, but they would get no closer.  Yurista ended the scoring with a solo homerun to left center, solidifying the score 16-11.

LEAD DEVILS
GM 1: Smiegocki finished the game going 2-3 with a walk and a timely RBI double. Defensively, Peacock was all over the outfield finishing the day with three crucial catches in left field.
GM 2: Yurista swung the bat well in the second game, going 3 for 3 with a double, the home run and four runs scored. He also finished the game on the hill for the Devils throwing the seventh inning to close out the victory. Freshman Christopher Kubas finished the game 2-2 with three RBI's and two runs scored.

BOMBS AWAY
The Devils had seventeen hits on the day, with six of them being extra base hits. Nodoro finished the doubleheader getting on base five out of six at bats with three walks, two hits including a solo homerun to left center. 

COACHES THOUGHTS
"The hardest thing to do in baseball is to sweep a double-header, in doing so, we showed some really good things against a tough Lakeland team. Game 1 was a tight one, but we got the job done on both sides of the field. Game 2 was wide open early. The offense did a good job coming out aggressive. It wasn't pretty in the later innings, but we are learning as we face some adversity. There is still plenty to improve on, but I believe we set the tone for a very important week in our schedule. I'm proud of our guys." - Head Coach Jamie Quinn

UP NEXT
The Devils have a quick turn-around, playing tomorrow at 9 a.m. versus Plymouth State University at Player Development Complex.