Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (10-4) could not hold an early lead and fell to FDU Florham (7-10) 9-8 in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon. JJ Swentkowski (Egg Harbor Twp./EHT) and Joe Pipher (Brick/Brick Memorial) led the 15-hit attack for the Ospreys with three hits each.
 
The Ospreys fell behind early as the Devils plated single runs in the first two innings off starter Zach Fillmore (Manahawkin/Southern Regional) before Stockton got untracked. After Fillmore pitched out of a jam in the third frame, Stockton sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring five runs to take a 5-2 lead.
 
An infield RBI hit by Brendan Doherty (Middletown/Middletown North), a two-RBI double by Pipher, his second of three two-baggers on the day, and single RBI hits by Austin Gonella (Beachwood/Toms River South) and Rico Viani (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) gave the Ospreys the advantage.
 
The Devils rebounded to re-take the lead at 6-5 with a pair of markers in the fifth and sixth innings. Stockton answered with a two spot in their half of the sixth for a 7-6 margin in the back and forth contest. Doherty plated one run with a sacrifice fly and John Perrino (Wall/Wall) stroked a two out hit for the other run for Stockton.
 
The visitors scored two more times in their half of the seventh inning, before Stockton answered to knot the game in the bottom of the inning. Gonella was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Klalo (Toms River/Toms River North). After a walk to Andrew Slinger (Tinton Falls/Monmouth), Mike DeSenzo (Pompton Plains/Pequannock) scored Gonella with an RBI hit to tie the game at 8-8.
 
The teams could not muster another score over the next two innings and the game went to an extra frame. A hit batter, a passed ball and a timely single by Kevin Smiegocki gave FDU the go-ahead run at 9-8. Stockton could not get a runner on in the bottom half of the inning and the game ended with the one run victory for the Devils.
 
DeSenzo and Doherty chipped in with two hits each with Doherty and Pipher driving in a pair of runs apiece for Stockton. Swentkowski and Gonella scored two runs each, with Swentkowski pilfering three bases. Nick Cutola (Lyndhurst/Lyndhurst) the last of six Osprey hurlers on the day, took the loss.
 
The Devils were led by A.J Yurista who had a four hit afternoon and drove in two runs. Matthew Godlewski picked up the win in relief with Joseph DeFeo earning his third save of the year.
 
Stockton will begin NJAC play this Saturday at Jersey City, when they will face New Jersey City in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 11:30 am.