DOYLESTOWN (PA) –
Jeremy Hefele earned the win on the mound with a complete game as the Delaware Valley University baseball team concluded its series against Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom foe FDU-Florham with a doubleheader split at home. The Devils took game one 6-3 in 11 innings and the Aggies won game two 3-2.
In the opener, FDU (7-13, 2-6 MAC Freedom) got on the board in the top of the first thanks to a Rey Diaz single to right field that scored Nate Peacock who was aboard on a walk.
DelVal (7-9, 2-3 MAC Freedom) responded in the bottom of the frame when Milazzo doubled down the right field line to put runners at second and third for
Luke Hendricks who delivered an RBI single to tie the score.
Tom Crooks came up next and scored Milazzo on a fielder's choice to give the Aggies a 2-1 lead.
The Devils knotted the score in the top of the fourth as Joe Bonaccorso led off with a single and came around to score after a DelVal error.
From there it became a marathon as the pitchers settled in and neither team scored through the seven scheduled innings. In the ninth frame, FDU broke through with Chris Franco knocking a lead-off double and eventually crossing the plate after an error to make it 3-2.
However, the Aggies responded in the bottom of the frame as
Trevor Mussleman got on with a lead-off single and stole second.
Kevin Crill advanced him to third with a single to center field and
Timmy Lallis ran out a ball that was hit to first base to earn the RBI and tie the game again at 3-3.
Neither team scored in the 10th frame, setting up an 11th inning FDU rally. The first two runners got free passes and advanced to second and third on a balk. David Wilbur then came up with one out and sent a single to right field for what would ultimately be the game winning RBI. Michael Lesler knocked in another run in the inning and Wilbur came around to score to give the Devils a 6-3 lead.
The Aggies got one on in the bottom of the 11th, but could not complete the comeback as FDU took game one, 6-3. Calvin Endy pitched six innings giving up two runs (one earned) and five hits, but
James Eldridge was credited with the loss after surrendering three earned runs and one hit.
Hunter Mease pitched four innings in relief and gave up one unearned run and two hits.
The Devils Kenny Carrier pitched eight innings giving up six hits and two earned runs, and Kevin Brown earned the win with three innings pitched and one run allowed.
In the nightcap, DelVal sent
Jeremy Hefele to the mound and the offense got him all the runs he would need in just the first two innings. In the first, Lallis got aboard with a single and stole second before eventually coming around to score on a balk.
In the second, Mussleman led off with a bunt single and
Ryan Schuetrumpf advanced him to third with a single to right-center.
Jeremy Stewart grounded into a double play but Mussleman scored to make it 2-0. Crill came up next and singled through the right side and stole second before Lallis laced one to center field that plated Crill for the three-run lead.
The Devils scored one run in the fourth and sixth innings, but Hefele battled to complete the 3-2 win and move to 1-2 overall. He finished the day with four strikeouts, two walks, five hits and one earned run allowed.
Offensively for the Aggies, Lallis went 5-for-9 with an RBI and two runs scored over the two games while Crill and Mussleman each picked up three hits and Milazzo, two.
For FDU, Jeremy Bello suffered the loss in game two pitching five innings and striking out three while allowing three earned runs. Bonaccorso led the offense with four hits and a run scored in the two games. Reynaldo Diaz, Lesler and Wilbur had the RBI' and Moskowitz was 2-for-3 with one run batted in in the second game.
