Madison, N.J. (April 5) –In a game that saw both teams climb back from respective deficits and force the game into a 10^th inning, the FDU-Florham baseball team (9-15, 3-7 MAC Freedom) suffered the extra inning defeat against MAC Freedom foe DeSales (10-13, 5-5 MAC Freedom), 11-10 at home on Friday afternoon.
 
The offensive output for the Devils was led by the tandem of Matt Aber (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and Tyrus Chippendale (Middlesex, N.J.) who both compiled three hits with Aber driving in three runs to Chippendale's two. Chippendale also notched a double and a run scored.

The early advantage belonged to Fairleigh Dickinson, when they had a massive seven-run bottom of the second to take the commanding 7-0 lead. Jack Giovenco (Allentown, Pa.), Brody Donovan (South Plainfield, N.J.), Dylan Hode (Manalapan, N.J.) and Mark Geist (Middlesex, N.J.) were all walked in a row to score the first run of the inning. Chippendale then batted in Donovan and Hode on a double down the left field line to push the score to 3-0. Jake Hendershot (Martinsville, N.J.) was walked during his next at bat and after what was looking like a ground out RBI from Nick Calabrese (Long Valley, N.J.), turned into an extra run after an error from the Bulldogs short stop made Calabrese safe and moved him to second, Hendershot to third and scored Chippendale along with Geist, who would have made it home regardless of the error. Aber closed out the scoring in the inning with a two-RBI single up the middle that plated Hendershot and Calabrese for a 7-0 Devils advantage.
 
Despite the large early deficit, DeSales never faltered and chipped away at the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings and eventually tied the game with three runs in the top of the sixth. The runs in the third were scored on a two-RBI double to center field, the runs in the fifth were scored on an RBI single through the right side and an RBI double down the left field line to narrow the gap, 7-4. After a two-RBI triple down the right field line and a score off a wild pitch, the game was nodded at seven apiece.
 
The Devils regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth frame to retake the lead, 8-7. Geist got on base with a single up the middle and advance to second on a Chippendale single through the right side. The Bulldogs tried to turn the double play on Hendershot's at bat when they got Chippendale out at second but an errant throw from the second baseman to try and get Hendershot out allowed Geist to go from third to home for a score on an error.
 
DeSales took their first lead of the game after they scored two runs in the seventh inning on an RBI double to left center and an RBI single through the right side to take a 9-8 lead. They extended their advantage to 10-8 in the top of the eighth on a passed ball.
 
Backs against the walls in the bottom of the ninth, Hendershot led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a ground out by Zach Ganca (Merrick, N.J.). After Hendershot stole third, it put him in prime position to be sent home on an RBI single up the middle by Aber to cut the DeSales edge to one run. Tommy Sica (Wyckoff, N.J.) ran for Aber and got to second on a single to the shortstop by Aaron Santos (Bridgewater, N.J.). The Devils loaded the bases after Giovenco was walked and tied the game with a sacrifice fly by Donovan that scored Sica to tie the game. FDU was not able to get the game-winning run and the game headed to extra innings.
 
The Bulldogs found the run they needed in the top of the tenth on a solo shot over the right-center field fence for an 11-10 lead and held off the Devils in the bottom of the frame to take the first of their game three-game conference series.
 
Nick Rizos (Wood Ridge, N.J.) got the start for the Devils on the mound and pitched 4.2 innings with eight hits allowed and four runs allowed. Evan Sabo (Hillsborough, N.J.) suffered the loss as the pitcher of record when DeSales took the lead in the 10^th inning. He pitched two innings and allowed two hits and one earned run.
 
The rest of the FDU-Florham vs. DeSales series will take place on Sunday, April 7 when the Bulldogs host the Devils for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.
 
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