TEANECK, N.J. - FDU Baseball (27-15-1, 20-5 NEC) used a big day at the plate from sophomore right fielder
Hunter Ray to top the CCSU Blue Devils (14-21, 11-14 NEC) Friday afternoon at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
FDU opened the scoring in the series by executing a first and third play where
Garryn Plummer forced a rundown, allowing
Luke Russo to score in the process. The Knights got two zeros from starter
Chris Mattioli, but the Blue Devils broke through in the third with a two run home run, flipping the scoreboard on the Knights, bringing a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the third inning.
It wouldn't take FDU long to get the lead back, as in the bottom of the third inning
Hunter Ray hit one of his three home runs on Friday afternoon, and the Knights flipped the scoreboard once again on CCSU, as Ray's two run homer made the score 3-2 Knights after the first third of play.
The Blue Devils tied the game in the fourth inning as the Knights were put in a position where they needed to make a tough defensive play, and were not able to execute as the Blue Devils got a run on a throwing error by second baseman
Brady Fandl. FDU once again would find an answer quickly, as
Luke Russo continued to stay hot with a double down the right field line that plated
Johnathan Gomez.
FDU would break the game open in the sixth inning, starting with a
Travis Stroh RBI single that allowed
Diego Urreta to come around and score. FDU's dynamic tandem at the top of the order of
Johnathan Gomez and
Hunter Ray hit back to back home runs, Gomez's being a three run shot, followed by
Hunter Ray's second homer of the game, and all of a sudden the Knights lead went from one run to six runs in the sixth inning.
The Knights continued to throw haymakers in the later stages of the ballgame, as after the Blue Devils scored a run in the top of the eighth inning, Gomez singled home two more runs, and then just one batter later, Gomez came around to score on
Hunter Ray's third homer of the game, and the 25th of the season. The Knights continued to apply pressure with a base hit and two walks, and then FDU was able to walk off the game with a RBI bases loaded walk by
Jeremy Cheeseman to end the game in the eighth inning by a mercy rule, with the score being 14-4.
Chris Messina picked up his sixth win in relief for FDU this season, as he went the last three innings of the ballgame, only surrendering one run while striking out four Blue Devils. This win is win number 20 in the NEC season for FDU, and the 27th for the Knights this season.
FDU and CCSU will meet for the second game of the three game set at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Saturday, with first pitch being set for 1 p.m.
Jeremy Cheeseman will be the starting pitcher as FDU celebrates Little League Day presented by Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union.
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