Madison, NJ (June 9)- Throughout the next weeks, we will be taking a look back and ranking our top 10 moments of the 2024-25 season. There were a ton of great games and performances from this past calendar year, and we are excited to look back and recap some of these moments with our fans!
Making our top 10 list at #9: Baseball Secures First MAC Freedom Series Sweep Since 2022, on Senior Day Against Delaware Valley
Game One: FDU 14 – Delaware Valley 7
Behind a milestone performance and a high-powered offensive showing, the FDU-Florham baseball team claimed a 14-7 victory over Delaware Valley University in the opening game of their weekend series.
Colbert went 1-for-4 on the day, with his lone hit marking the 100th of his collegiate career — a double in the third inning. He also added an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
After Delaware Valley jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a pair of doubles and a single, the Devils immediately answered in the top of the second. Daniel Cowles (Colts Neck, NJ) singled to start the inning, and Colbert reached on a fielder's choice. With a runner on, Xavier Diaz (Wanaque, NJ) blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall to get FDU on the board. Mark Geist (Middlesex, NJ) walked, Matthew Bond (Ridgewood, NJ) singled, and Parker Muratore (Branchburg, NJ) walked to load the bases. Jack Giovenco (Allentown, Pa.) then drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and an error allowed two more runs to score. Zach Ganca (Merrick, NY) followed with a single up the middle, plating Giovenco and Muratore to give the Devils a 5-3 lead.
After a scoreless third, FDU tacked on four more runs in the fourth. Muratore and Giovenco opened the frame with back-to-back triples, and Ganca reached on an error that scored Giovenco. John Rolli (Long Valley, NJ) then smacked a double to score Ganca. Cowles walked, and Colbert lifted a sac fly to bring in Rolli, pushing the lead to 9-3.
FDU added another run in the fifth when Bond singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ganca, making it 10-3. Delaware Valley pulled one back in the bottom half with a double steal.
The Devils erupted again in the seventh with a four-run inning. Geist led off with a single and scored on a triple by Bond. Giovenco knocked in Bond with a single, and after Ganca walked, both he and Giovenco stole bases. Rolli then hit a sac fly to score Giovenco, and Ganca later crossed home on a wild pitch, stretching the lead to 14-4.
Delaware Valley managed to add three runs late — one in the seventh on a single, and two in the ninth via a triple and groundout — but it wasn't enough to overcome the Devils' offensive surge.
Eddie Appollina (Annandale, NJ) earned the win for FDU, striking out eight over five innings of work. Colby Craig (Chester, NJ) entered in relief and made history with his appearance, setting a new program record for most appearances in a single season. Alex DeSimone (Long Valley, NJ), Evan Sabo (Hillsborough, NJ), and Christian Weippert (Long Valley, NJ) each contributed an inning out of the bullpen to secure the win.
Game Two: FDU 4 – Delaware Valley 1
The Devils got on the board early, striking first in the bottom of the first inning. Ganca singled to left field, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Cowles to make it 1-0.
FDU extended the lead to 2-0 in the second after Geist was hit by a pitch, stole second, reached third on a groundout, and was driven in by Muratore with an infield single.
The Aggies broke through in the top of the fourth with a run off a double, but the Devils quickly answered back in the bottom of the frame. Geist led off with a towering solo home run that bounced off the scoreboard in left field to reclaim the two-run cushion.
In the fifth, Aaron Santos (Piscataway, NJ) singled and later came around to score on a double from Colbert, pushing the score to 4-1 — where it would stay for the remainder of the contest.
Chris Kaponis (Burlington Twp., NJ) was stellar on the mound for the Devils, tossing six innings of one-run ball while striking out nine to earn the win. Jake Stollar (Flemington, NJ) closed the door in the seventh for the save.
Game Three: FDU 5 – Delaware Valley 0
The Devils kept the momentum rolling in the second game of the day and third of the series, capitalizing in the bottom of the second to take an early lead. Diaz and Geist singled to set the table, and Peter Longo (Cherry Hill, NJ) drove in Diaz with a base hit to right, giving FDU a 1-0 edge.
FDU broke the game open in the fifth. Giovenco reached on an infield single, and with two outs, Santos delivered again — this time crushing a two-run homer to left field to give the Devils a 3-0 lead.
Two more runs came across in the sixth. Colbert reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to third on a fielding error. Longo laid down a textbook squeeze bunt to score Colbert, and Muratore followed with a single up the middle to plate Geist and extend the lead to 5-0.
That was all the offense needed, as FDU's pitching staff kept the Aggies off the scoreboard for a full seven innings.
Tyler Gaetano (Staten Island, NY) earned the win, striking out seven over five shutout innings. The bullpen closed out the game in style on senior day, with Trevor Kobryn (Hillsborough, NJ), Weippert, DeSimone, and Craig each throwing a scoreless inning of relief to complete the shutout.
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