Madison, N.J. (March 29) –In a hard-fought defensive battle between both teams FDU-Florham baseball team (9-12, 3-4 MAC Free) was able to edge out visiting Lebanon Valley, 3-2 during in the first game of their three-game conference series on Friday afternoon.
 
Jake Hendershot (Martinsville, N.J.) showed out for the Devils as he went 3-for-4 with two runs and a triple while Matt Aber (Basking Ridge, N.J.) batted in two of the three runs FDU scored on the day. Zach Ganca (Merrick, N.J.) collected his second multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3 on the afternoon.

After two scoreless innings, it was the Flying Dutchmen who got on the board in the top of the third when the team went up 1-0 on an RBI single to left field.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson was able to double the Lebanon Valley total in the bottom of that frame to flip the score, 2-1 in their favor. With two outs on the board, Tyrus Chippendale (Middlesex, N.J.) kept the inning alive with a single through the left side that was followed by a bunt single from Hendershot. John Rolli (Long Valley, N.J.) was walked to give the Devils a bases-loaded situation and it was Aber that came through with a two-run RBI single up the middle to plate both Chippendale and Hendershot.
 
The Devils extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning to a 3-1 advantage. Hendershot tripled down the right field line and crossed home plate on the next at bat on a Rolli sacrifice bunt.
 
Lebanon Valley brought the game back to only a one run game when the Dutchmen scored on a ground rule double over the right field fence.
 
After getting out of that inning, the defense went three up and three down in the final two innings to notch the first MAC Freedom win in their conference series with Lebanon Valley since they came over from the MAC Commonwealth.
 
FDU saw three pitchers take the rubber today. Nick Rizos (Wood Ridge, N.J.) got the start and pitched four innings and allowed only one run on six hits. Trenon Stanard (Millington, N.J.) was credited with the win in relief when he entered for Rizos in the fifth inning and allowed a run on six hits and struck out two batters. Ryan Krug (Long Hill, N.J.) got the save when he entered for Stanard late in the seventh inning. He had a clean day in relief when he allowed no hits and had all seven batters he faced end in an out which included two strikeouts.
 
FDU-Florham continues their MAC Freedom series with a doubleheader against Lebanon Valley tomorrow, March 30 with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 pm.
 
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