Madison, NJ (April 5) – The FDU-Florham baseball team (11-16) (4-8 MAC Freedom) welcomed DeSales for a doubleheader with a chance of winning the series against them. They ended up doing so, although they ended up splitting games, winning game one of the doubleheader 17-9, and losing game two in extra innings, 8-6.

Jack Giovenco (Allentown, Pa.) went 5-9 in the double header, with five RBIs and two runs scored. Daniel Cowles (Colts Neck, NJ) did well as well, going 3-6 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Parker Muratore (Branchburg, NJ) went 3-6 on the day, but went 3-3 in game one with one RBI.

Game One
The Devils got on top from the jump in the top of the first inning. Giovenco smacked a double, and after advancing on a wild pitch, Zach Ganca (Merrick, NJ) grounded out to score Giovenco to make the game 1-0 Devils.

The next runs came for the Devils in the top of third. Muratore started the inning off with a single, and after Giovenco was hit by a pitch, and Aaron Santos (Bridgewater, NJ) was walked, Cowles hit a sacrifice fly to score Muratore. John Rolli (Long Valley, NJ) then hit a single to score Giovenco, and the lead expanded for FDU to 3-0.

DeSales ended up putting up seven runs in the top of the fourth, stunning the crowd. But FDU took this in stride, as they scored an insane 11 runs, with two grand slams in the bottom half of the inning. Tommy Sica (Wyckoff, NJ) singled, and after a Muratore single and a Giovenco walk to load the bases, Santos hit a single to score Sica, and Cowles hit the first of the grand slams, knocking it over the left field wall to score four runs like that. The Devils loaded the bases again, from an error that got Rolli on, a hit by pitch to Mark Geist (Middlesex, NJ), and a single from Muratore, Giovenco crushed the second of the two grand slams over left field again to swing it from a 7-3 DeSales lead, to a 14-7 FDU advantage.

DeSales knocked one run in the top of the fifth, but FDU responded with two of their own in the bottom half. Cowles walked, and then Rolli homered for the third home run of the day for the Devils, making it a 16-8 lead after five.

The Bulldogs put another run in the top of the sixth, but again the Devils put another run up in the bottom of the sixth, as Muratore walked and Giovenco singled, and an errant throw when Giovenco scored from second lead FDU to score. That would be the final run of game one, and FDU would win game one 17-9.

Chris Kaponis (Burlington Twp., NJ) started the game for FDU, and threw for 3.2 innings with four strikeouts, with the last one helping reach the career milestone of 100 strikeouts in his career. Colby Craig (Chester, NJ), and Liam Stemmler (Bayport, NY) pitched the middle of the game for the Devils and did well. Jack Kopera (Jefferson Twp., NJ) got the win for FDU, throwing for 2.1 innings.

Game Two
Game two saw a little bit less action, as the first runs of the game came in the fourth inning. Rolli and Xavier Diaz (Wanaque, NJ) singled, and Peter Longo (Cherry Hill, NJ) hit a sacrifice fly to score Rolli. Matthew Bond (Ridgewood, NJ) hit a single to drive in Diaz to put the Devils in front 2-0.

The Bulldogs clawed back however, as they put up two in the top of the fifth from a double and a sac fly, one in the eighth inning from a ground out, and one in the top of the ninth from a sacrifice fly.

FDU would not back down without a fight though. In the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Johnston (Garden City, NY) hit a pinch hit single. Muratore reached on a fielders choice, but that created two outs. Down to their final out, Giovenco hit a double to score Muratore, and Ganca hit a single down the middle to tie the game at four a piece, and sent the game to extras.

DeSales scored four runs in the top of the tenth to put FDU in a hole, but they attempted to dig their way out of it. Cowles singled up the middle to start it, and Rolli reached on an error. Diaz walked to load the bases, but a double play was hit into which scored Cowles, but put the Devils to their last out. Dominic Falino (Miller Place, NY) hit a double to score Diaz, but the Devils couldn't put any more in, and lost game two 8-6 in extras.

Tyler Gaetano (Staten Island, NY) started game two, and performed spectularly, pitching five innings while striking out seven batters. Christian Weippert (Long Valley, NJ), Alex DeSimone (Long Valley, NJ), Jacob Forgatch (Parsippany, NJ) and Craig pitched from the bullpen.

FDU will take on John Jay at home on April 8^th for non-conference action as they honor our first responders during first responders day. First pitch will be at 3:30 PM.

For the latest on FDU-Florham Athletics, follow the Devils via social media (@FDUDevils)