Baseball Topples RPI, 8-6

AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 14, 2018) - Freshman Joseph Kastner went 5 2/3 innings in his first collegiate start to help the FDU baseball team knock off Rensselear Polytechnic Institute Wednesday.

The Devils are now 4-5 on the year, while RPI drops to 2-5.
 

Kastner ran into trouble in the first, as the Engineers capitalized on an error to plate two runs. The rookie escaped the jam by getting an inning ending double-play. 

The Devils answered back in a big way in the second, scoring four times.

Senior Christopher Franco, sophomore AJ Yurista and junior Kevin Smiegocki recorded consecutive hits, and senior David Wilbur lofted a sac fly to even the game. Freshman Matt Nodoro reached on an error to score another run and then came around to touch home on a wild pitch.

FDU tacked on two more in the guests half of the fourth, as senior Joseph Bonaccorso hit a potential inning ending double-play grounder that was thrown away, allowing two baserunners to score. 

Staked to a lead, Kastner worked an effective third inning before giving up a run on infield single with two down in the fourth. The runner was quickly gunned out trying to steal second on a perfect strike from Wilbur. Senior 

Reynaldo Diaz hit a huge double to left center in the sixth, allowing classmate 

Nick DeAngelis Jr. and Nodoro to score.
 

After the Engineers closed to within 8-5 in the sixth, Kastner was replaced by senior 

Kevin Brown. Brown got out of the sixth before giving up a sacrifice fly in the seventh, bringing to score to 8-6.
 

Needing two to tie in the ninth, RPI sent the tying run to the plate after a hit by pitch to start the frame. Brown was able to get a double-play, but issused a two-out walk. The lefty rebounded to get the final out of the evening on a strikeout, earning the save.
 

DeAngelis worked a pair of walks in the leadoff hole, while Nodoro crossed home plate three times. Kastner fanned four in his night of work, allowing nine hits and five runs.