Madison, NJ (February 19) – FDU-Florham baseball earned a hard fought 2-1 victory over Drew University this afternoon on the second day of the 2022 Madison Avenue Challenge inside Vincent J. and Lenda F. Naimoli Ballpark. Today's game, which featured an hour delay due to snow, was called after seven complete innings were played.
 
The win secured a 2-0 start to the season for the Devils after they defeated Saint Elizabeth on Friday afternoon by an 8-0 final. 
 
FDU-Florham (2-0) was once again dominant on the hill as three pitchers combined for the victory. Joseph Kastner (Springfield, NJ) got the start for the Devils, pitched four shutout innings, scattered two hits and struck out four in his first outing of the season. Jonathan Rodenhaver (Port Republic, Md.) pitched the fifth and Colby Craig (Chester, NJ) earned the first win of his career with two shutdown innings out of the pen.
 
Drew (1-3) starter Teddy Hoxie took the loss (0-2) and pitched all six frames for the visitors. Hoxie allowed two earned runs, four hits and struck out five in his second start of the season.
 
The Devils scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second after an RBI double to left center by Jimmy Finnerty (Augusta, NJ) plated Vincent Ferrigno (Marlboro, NJ), who reached on a single of his own up the middle.
 
Rodenhaver came into the game in the top of the fifth and allowed Drew to score the game tying run. Justin Cece got hit by a pitch as the first batter of the inning, got moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on an RBI double down the left field line by Shane Benson.
 
Craig retired the Rangers 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth and then with two outs in the bottom of the sixth the Devils struck for what proved to be the game winning run. DJ Gonnelli (Berkeley Heights, NJ) got hit by a pitch and came all the way around to score on an RBI double by Chris Kubas (New Providence, NJ). 

With the tying run on base for Drew in the top of the seventh after the Rangers earned a walk, Cece attempted to lay down a bunt and was called out for interference on the play. Craig retired the final two batters in order as FDU secured the 2-1 non-conference victory.
 
FDU will welcome John Jay to Madison on Wednesday, February 23 for a non-conference tilt at Vincent J. and Lenda F. Naimoli Ballpark beginning at 3:30 pm.

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