Box Score FORT MYERS, FL (March 9, 2020)- FDU baseball fell in a tight contest to Plymouth State University on Monday afternoon, 8-6. After the loss, the Devils fall to 3-4 on the season while Panthers improve to 5-1.

RECAP
Plymouth State jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning off of FDU junior starter, Joseph Kastner. It was the Panthers again in the bottom of the second, scratching another run across, extending their lead to 3-0. The Devils got their offense going in the top of the third inning, with junior Joe Moskowitz singling to right field. With one out, Peacock roped his second hit of the game, moving Moskowitz to second base. Junior Matt Nodoro walked to load the bases, before fellow junior AJ Yurista stepped to the dish. Yurista ripped a double down the left field line, scoring all three runs and tying the game, 3-3.

The Panthers responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring a run off a bunt single down the third baseline. FDU would rally in the top of the fifth, with Nodoro walking to lead off the inning. It was Yurista delivering again, driving a double to the right center gap, scoring Nodoro and tying the game, 4-4. Freshman Ryan Toomey and sophomore Tyler McCulloch both walked to load the bases, bringing senior Michael Tufano to the dish. Tufano delivered, stroking a single to left field for FDU's first lead of the game, 5-4. Plymouth had the response, tying the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after a wild throw to left field, then later, taking the lead off a double to the right center gap. FDU junior Nate Peacock hit his first homerun of the year to lead off the sixth inning, tying the game at six apiece.

The Panthers added one run in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, regaining a two-run lead, 8-6. In the bottom of the last inning, FDU mounted a comeback, started with a Toomey single, followed by base hits from McCulloch and Tufano. With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Panthers closer recorded two strike outs and a fly ball to close the game.

LEAD DEVIL
The leadoff hitter for FDU continued to swing a hot bat, finishing the game 3-for-5 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in one on his homerun.

CONTINUING TO RAKE
The three and four hitters for the Devils continued to swing the bat well. Yurista ended the game 2-for-5 with four RBI and two doubles, while Nodoro had a 2-for-2 day, with three walks and two runs scored.

HIT PARADE
This is the second straight day FDU has finished with double digit hits. After finishing the doubleheader yesterday with 17, the Devils came back today with another 14, combining for 31 total hits in the last two days. That total has led to 25 total runs over a three game span for FDU. 

FROM COACH
"It's tough to win ballgames when you make 5 errors in the field and a couple on the base paths, especially against a good team like Plymouth State. However, I enjoyed watching the way our guys competed today from start to finish; it was a good competitive ball game to be a part of. Our bats are doing a great job right now giving us a good chance to compete. We're going to rest up and enjoy our off day tomorrow, then it's on to Coast Guard on Wednesday." – Head Coach Jamie Quinn

UP NEXT
FDU returns to action on Wednesday, March 11 when they take on the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCG) at 9 a.m.