MADISON (NJ)--- The Delaware Valley University baseball team began Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play at FDU-Florham on Friday and lost both games to the host Devils.
Game 1: 12-11 FDU-Florham
In game one, the Aggies entered the seventh inning trailing 12-6 and had their big comeback fall just short, as they plated five runs, but left the bases loaded to end the game.
The Aggies took an early lead in the second inning, as Garrett Zimmerman and Blake Ramos began the inning with singles. Timmy Lallis brought home the first run with an RBI base knock for the game's first run. Shawne Eldridge added an RBI fielder's choice in the inning and Kenny Tunison made it 3-0 with an RBI single.
After the Devils scored a run in the second and three in the third to lead 4-3, the Aggies tied it up at 4-4 with another RBI fielder's choice by Eldridge.
FDU quickly took that lead back in the bottom half of the frame scoring a run on a wild pitch and a two-run single by Tyler McCulloch to make it 7-4.
Hank Bielen singled up the middle in the top of the fifth to trim the deficit to 7-5, but the Devils added on two more to extend their advantage to 9-5 after five innings.
After Jonathan Drews had an RBI single in the top of the sixth, FDU again tacked on more runs, scoring three in the bottom half to lead 12-6 heading to the seventh.
Tunison and Bielen began the ferocious comeback with a pair of singles in the seventh. Jimmy Kelly scored Tunison with an RBI single and Garrett Zimmerman then brought home Bielen and Kelly with a two-run single, bringing the score to 12-9. After Ramos singled and Lallis was hit by a pitch, Drews and Eldrige hit back-to-back RBI base knocks, bringing the Aggies to with one at 12-11 with one out and the bases loaded. Tunison and Bielen, who began the inning for the Aggies, were unable to bring in the tying run, as Colby Craig retired the two hitters to end the game with Bielen flying out to the warning track in left field for the final out.
The Aggies recorded 18 hits and have now had 14 or more hits in half of their games this season. They have also scored 11 or more runs in half of their games.
Kenny Tunison went 4-for-5 and Garrett Zimmerman and Jonathan Drews each went 3-for-4. Blake Ramos, Hank Bielen and Timmy Lallis each had two hits and reached base safely three times. Â
Game Two: 5-2 FDU-Florham
In game two, it was the Devils who got the scoring started early, as their four first inning runs propelled them to their second victory of the day.
Tommy Moore, who went 3-for-3 in game two, belted a two-run homerun for the game's first runs. McCulloch and Matt Nodoro hit consecutive RBI doubles for the third and fourth runs of the inning to give the Devils a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the third, the Aggies cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs. Tunison scored Lallis with an RBI single and Bielen brought home Drews for the second run.
The Devils scored the final run of the game with a single in the bottom of the fourth.
FDU starter Joseph Kastner improved his record to 3-0 firing a complete game.
Alex Crim continued to pitch well this season, allowing just one hit in two innings of relief.
Timmy Lallis went 3-for-4 with a run scored in game two, giving him multiple hits in five consecutive games and in seven total for the season. He has recorded a hit in every game this year and is hitting a team-best .465.
The Aggies and Devils will complete the three game series at DelVal on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
