APRIL 23, 2010
KING'S BASEBALL FALLS TO FDU-18-12 IN FIRST GAME OF THREE-GAME SERIES
WILKES-BARRE -- The visiting FDU-Florham baseball team broke open a close game with 12 runs over the final three innings of play as the Devils posted an 18-12 victory over host King's College in the first of an important three-game Freedom Conference weekend series Friday at the Betzler Athletic Complex.
With the win, FDU improved to 25-5 overall and 13-3 in Freedom Conference play while King's slipped to 18-11 and 10-6 in league competition. FDU reached the scoring column first, taking advantage of a two-out Monarch error to tally five unearned runs to build a 5-0 lead. In King's half of the inning, the Monarchs used a leadoff double from Sean Rooney, a RBI single by Rob Lemoncelli, and a run-scoring double off the bat of Rob Fravel to cut the lead to 5-2.
King's took a 6-5 lead with four runs in the fourth inning, ignited by a leadoff home run from Brian Mikus. Jeremy Bonser and Rooney followed with singles and a walk to Eric Matula loaded the bases. Joey Troxell they drew another walk to force in a run before Fravel delivered a two-run single to put the Monarchs on top.
After FDU tied the game at 6-6 with a run in the top of the fifth, the Monarchs struck quickly in the bottom of the frame when Matt Unger drilled a solo home run to put King's back on top 7-6.
The Devils, however, scored three runs in the seventh inning and six more in the eighth to push the score to 16-7. After the Monarchs failed to score in the eighth, FDU took advantage of another King's error to add two more unearned runs in the ninth to increase the lead to 18-7.
Needing a miraculous rally, King's refushed to quit and pushed across five runs in the bottom of the ninth, keyed by a two-run single from Bonser, a RBI double by Rooney, and doubles from Matula and Troxell, but it was not enough as the Devils walked away with the victory.
The Monarchs had 12 hits in the game, topped by Rooney who was 3-for-5 with a RBI and three runs scored. Fravel was 2-for-5 with three RBI while Bonser finished 2-for-5 with two RBI. Starting pitcher Tommy Rozelle (4-3) took the loss, allowing 10 runs, five earned and struck out eight batters, in seven and one-third innings.
Matt Joiner led FDU by going 3-for-6 with six RBI. Steve Seminerio was 3-for-6 with four RBI. Glenn Cox (6-1) was the winner, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and struck out five.
The teams will complete their weekend series Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader in Madison, NJ.
