DOYLESTOWN (PA) – The Delaware Valley University baseball team opened up Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play with a doubleheader split against FDU-Florham on Saturday.
The Devils (5-7, 1-1 MAC Freedom) took the first game, 8-2 and the Aggies (8-3, 1-1 MAC Freedom) won the second, 5-0. The victory was the 300th career win for DelVal head coach Bob Altieri. He is the winningest coach in program history with a 300-292-2 record in 16-plus seasons.
Junior right-hander Chris Kelly (2-0) hurled a two-hit shutout in the nightcap. He scattered five walks and struck out three. The Aggies put two runs on the board in the second. Junior second baseman Ben Lippincott had a base hit through the right side to score sophomore first baseman Jeremy Stewart. An error on the play also brought home junior outfielder Mike Anusky.
DelVal added one run each in the third, fifth and sixth innings. Senior designated hitter Matt Dewald had a pair of RBI singles with both scoring junior center fielder Kyle Wenger. Sophomore shortstop Kevin Crill sent a RBI base hit through the right side to plate Dewald. Righty Andrew Hille (0-1) took the loss for FDU-Florham.
Game one was a pitcher's duel early on between Aggies' senior right-hander Jake Richard and righty Kenny Carrier. The Devils struck first with an unearned run in the fourth. They opened up the lead with five runs in the sixth. Kevin Sinclair and Nick DeAngelis Jr. hit back-to-back RBI singles and Frankie Tassielli followed with a two-run double. Tassielli later came home on an error.
The two DelVal runs came in the bottom of the sixth. Dewald singled up the middle and Crill scored. Lippincott followed afterwards on a fielder's choice. Tassielli added insurance for FDU-Florham with a two-run double in the seventh.
Carrier (1-2) went the distance for the Devils, allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Richard (2-1) went 5.1 innings in the loss.
Dewald finished the day four-for-six at the plate with three RBI and one run scored. Wenger posted four hits (seven at-bats), two doubles and two runs scored. Sophomore Sammy Amos, Crill and Lippincott all drove in a run.
For FDU-Florham, Tassielli had three hits (seven at-bats), two doubles, four RBI and one run scored. Josh DellaPietro and Bryan Pieschel each hit a double.
DelVal and FDU-Florham wrap up the season series in Madison, New Jersey on Monday, March 21 (3:30 p.m.).