FLEMINGTON, NJ (March 19, 2021)- FDU baseball hosted conference foe DeSales University on Friday, dropping both contests of the double header, 13-10 and 13-3. With the losses, the Devils fall to 2-4 overall and conference play, while the Bulldogs improve to 5-1 overall and in the MAC Freedom.

Game 1
Senior, Joseph Kastner started on the mound in game one for FDU. The Bulldogs struck first scoring a run in the opening frame. Junior Tommy Moore hit his fourth homerun of the season over the left field wall to give the Devils an early 2-1 lead. After DeSales loaded the bases in the top of the third, Kastner was able to get out of the inning with no runs allowed. The Bulldogs picked up one run in the fourth and capitalizing off of a triple that scored three runs in the fifth and giving DSU the lead, 5-2. In the bottom of the fifth, senior AJ Yurista hit a solo home run to cut into the Bulldogs lead. Once again, DeSales responded with the bats with a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning. The Bulldogs would add three more runs in the half inning, giving them a seven-run lead going into the last half.

FDU didn't go down without a fight. After loading the bases, Moore hit a single to bring junior Bobby Hefferon home. On the following at bat, senior Michael Tufano knocked in seniors Matt Nodoro and Nate Peacock, cutting the score to 10-6. The Devils were not done yet. Senior Joe Moskowitz knocked in two RBI with a base hit and sophomore Arben Adili plated one on a fielder's choice, making it 10-9 DeSales. With a runner on second base, Hefferon smoked a ball through the four hole to tie the game at 10. After a scoreless eighth inning, DeSales scored three runs off a homer and a sacrifice bunt in the ninth and finishing the 13-10 extra innings victory.

In the game, Tufano and Moskowitz both collected three hits apiece and Moore added two.
 
Game 2
First-year DJ McGuinness started on the hill in game two for FDU. After a scoreless first inning, DeSales came out swinging in the top of the second, scoring seven runs. The Devils responded by loading the bases in the bottom of the second. Moore led off with a single, followed by Tufano with a single and Moskowitz with a walk. FDU couldn't capitalize, as DeSales starter set down the next three Devils.  

After a hard-fought bottom of the second, the Bulldogs took over in the third. Scoring one in the inning to gain an 8-0 lead, DeSales went on to score two in the fourth, and three in the fifth to conclude total at thirteen. The Devils attempted to fight their way back in the bottom of the fifth. After two outs to start the inning, Yurista and Moore reached base off a single and and a walk. Junior DJ Gonnelli crushed a three RBI Home Run to right center field to cut the lead to ten. However, that was all the scoring in this contest, with DSU completing the 13-3 win.

Nine different Devils collected a hit in the contest led by senior Chris Ciancimino with two.

Lead Devil
Junior transfer Tommy Moore has been red hot since coming to Madison, NJ. Reaching base 5 times and recording three hits, three runs, three RBI's, two walks, and a home run.

Career Milestone
AJ Yurista notched his 100^th hit of his career as a Devil on a base hit to center field in the sixth inning.

From Coach
"You can't give a good DeSales team 16 free base runners and expect to win-with 10 walks and 6 errors. That being said, with our resilience on offense, we came back and got the would-be winning run on second, but couldn't finish in game one. For game two, it is tough to always be down and chasing. We need to figure it out on the pitching side. It's early in the season, but it's starting to become gut check time real quick, and we're going to see what kind of character this team has as a whole." - Head Coach, Jamie Quinn

Up Next
FDU returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, March 20, when they travel to DeSales University for a DH starting at 12 pm.