Bronx, N.Y. (April 16) – After falling behind to a nine-run deficit early, the FDU-Florham baseball team (10-21) attempted to mount a big comeback and came within a run of doing so but it fell just short as they were defeated at Maritime College, 13-12 on Tuesday night.
 
The Devils saw a season-high four homeruns in tonight's contest including Jack Giovenco (Allentown, Pa.) and Aaron Santos (Bridgewater, N.J.) who each collected one in their trio of hits. The other two came from Matt Aber (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and Brody Donovan (South Plainfield, N.J.) who collected one to go along with another hit they each collected in the contest.
 
FDU-Florham took an early 1-0 lead when the first of their four homeruns came from Aber who cracked one over the right centerfield fence. That homerun was answered in the bottom of the frame from Maritime who hit a two-RBI homer over the left center fence to flip the script, 2-1.
 
The Devils once again regained the lead in the top of the second. Giovenco was was walked in the lead-off spot and advanced to second on a balk. Nick Calabrese (Long Valley, N.J.) plated Giovenco and got an extra base out of it when he advanced on the throw to home. Another balk in the inning sent Calabrese to third and he completed his trip around the bases on an RBI single to right field by Tyrus Chippendale (Middlesex, N.J.) to give FDU a 3-2 lead.
 
The difference maker in the game happened in the bottom of the second inning when the Mariners exploded for an eight-run inning that gave them a comfortable lead of 10-3. That lead was extended in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs that made the score 12-3.
 
The rally was sparked in the top of the sixth with three runs to cut the lead to 12-6. In the lead off, Giovenco fired a solo shot to right center. Tommy Sica (Wyckoff, N.J.) was walked, and the second homer of the inning was hit by Donovan with a two-run shot to left center that plated Sica and himself. The Mariners added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single through the left side to make the score 13-6.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson continued to chip away at the lead with two runs to make the score 13-8. John Rolli (Long Valley, N.J.) led off reaching on a walk and stole second to put himself in scoring position. Santos singled to left field and put him and Rolli on the corners for Giovenco to bring home Rolli on an RBI single to third base. Sica was walked again to give the Devils bases-loaded, and the final run of the inning came in the form of a sacrifice fly by Donovan that scored Santos.
 
The Devils really put pressure on the game when a four-run top of the eighth inning made it a one-run game. Chippendale led off with a single up the middle and rounded all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Jake Hendershot (Martinsville, N.J.) that he ended up reaching on and advancing to second to second because of an error by the third baseman. Rolli got the sacrifice fly to score Chippendale and that was followed up by an RBI double down the right field line for Aber. A two-run homer by Santos officially made it ball game and cut the lead to just 13-12.
 
Despite the great rally attempt, the Maritime defense held in the top of the ninth and that helped secure them the non-conference win.
 
Christian Weippert (Long Valley, N.J.) got the start and suffered the loss. He pitched an inning and allowed seven runs on six hits and struck out a batter. Both Colby Craig (Chester, N.J.) and Jake Stollar (Flemington, N.J.) both stood out in relief. Craig pitched the most innings with 3.2, allowed one run on five hits and struck out two batters. Stollar pitched the final two innings for FDU and allowed two hits, no runs and struck out a team high three batters.
 
FDU-Florham has more MAC Freedom action on tap next as they start their series traveling to take on Stevens for a 3:30pm tee time.
 
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