Madison, N.J. (April 20) – The FDU-Florham baseball team (12-22, 5-13 MAC Free) honored the 11 members of their senior class of 2024 before the Devils took the conference series from Stevens (20-12, 11-7 MAC Free) with 9-5 and 9-3 wins on Saturday afternoon. This was the first time the Devils won a conference series against the Ducks and t snapped a 12-game losing streak that dated back to 2021.
 
The 11 members of the senior class; Tyrus Chippendale (Middlesex, N.J.), Dylan Hode (Manalapan, N.J.), Brody Donovan (South Plainfield, N.J.), Jonathan Rodenhaver (Port Republic, Md.), Sean Wodell (Freehold, N.J.), Ryan Krug (Long Hill, N.J.), Zach Revuelta (Union, N.J.), Sebastian Alverio (Belleville, N.J.), Michael Dunay (Stockholm, N.J.), Ben Cohen (Malibu, Calif.) and Chris Kubas.
 
 
Offensively the bats were hot for a majority of the team. Jake Hendershot (Martinsville, N.J.) had himself a day with five hits, two RBI, a double, five runs scored and four stolen bases. Jack Giovenco (Allentown, Pa.) kept his hot streak going from this week with four hits on the day with three runs scored. Matt Aber (Basking Ridge, N.J.) came through in game two with a six-RBI performance on three hits that included a double.
 
Game One
 
A run in the first half inning from the Ducks on a failed pickoff attempt gave Stevens the 1-0 lead, but they did not hold it for long after the Devils put together a five-run bottom of the first to take the 5-1 edge. Hendershot led off the game with a single to right field and stole second. Both Giovenco and Aaron Santos (Bridgewater, N.J.) walked to give Donovan bases-loaded, where he plated Hendershot and kept the bases-loaded. A wild pitch moved everyone up a base and scored Giovenco before the bases loaded back up when Revuelta was hit by pitch. An error by the short stop allowed Santos to cross home plate and that was followed by another error, this time by the second baseman that allowed Donovan to score to end the scoring in the inning.
 
Stevens cut into the lead in the top of the third inning when they found runs on a fielding error by the catcher and an RBI double to center field that made the score 5-3. The Devils were able to move it to a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the frame. Facing two outs, Hode reached on a fielding error by the first baseman and advanced to second on a single through the right side by Chippendale. Hendershot drove Chippendale all the way home on an RBI single to center field.
 
The Ducks scored again in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI triple to cut the lead to 6-4, but the Devils once again found the runs they needed to maintain a safe distance with the lead when they added three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Donovan doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a through the left side by John Rolli (Long Valley, N.J.). Hode scored the first run of the inning on an RBI double to right field and then was followed by a two-RBI single up the middle by Chippendale that scored both Hode and Rolli.
 
Stevens tried to mount a comeback and found a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double down the right field line, but they were only able to get that run and the game was closed out and Fairleigh Dickinson took game one.
 
Nick Rizos (Wood Ridge, N.J.) got the win for the Devils on the mound. He pitched four innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three batters. Krug came into the game in the sixth inning when the Devils only had a two-run lead and closed the win out to get the save.

Game Two
 
Stevens started off game two with a pair of runs on two RBI singles up the middle but were answered in the bottom of the frame by FDU and the game saw a 2-2 stalemate. Hendershot led off with a single to right center and was followed by a single through the left side by Giovenco that sent Hendershot to third. A fielding error by the right fielder on Aber's at bat, scored Hendershot and moved Giovenco to second. Santos singled through the right side to set up bases-loaded for Donovan, who hit a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game, 2-2.
 
FDU-Florham gained the advantage, 5-2 in the bottom of the second inning. Mark Geist (Middlesex, N.J.) walked in the lead off and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. A fielder's choice put Chippendale on first and an error by the third baseman helped Geist reach third. Hendershot was hit by pitch to load the bases where Aber earned a two-RBI single through the right side to score both Geist and Chippendale. The final run of the inning was scored on an error by the third base that plated Hendershot.
 
The Devils extended their lead to 7-2 after a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Facing two outs, Hendershot was hit by pitch and stole second. Giovenco was also hit and both men executed a double steal to advance bases. Both men were brought in on another two-RBI single by Aber, this time to center field.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson took a commanding lead of 9-2 after two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. After Chippendale reached first on an error by the short stop, he was immediately brought around the bases by Hendershot on an RBI double to left center. Aber found a double of his own on a bullet down the right field line to close out scoring in the game for the Devils.
 
Stevens once again found a run in their final frame when they scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, but that was all they found as the Devils closed out the game and took game two and the series.
 
Chris Kaponis (Burlington, Twp., N.J.) finally got himself back in the win column with a win. He pitched six innings and allowed only two runs on seven hits and struck out three batters.
 
FDU-Florham has its final non-conference road tilt of the season as they travel Galloway, N.J. for a matchup with Stockton. The game is slated for a 3:30pm start.
 
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