TEANECK, NJ – Purchase College scored a pair of early runs but could not hold off the FDU-Florham offense, as the Panthers later fell, 8-2, in a non-conference baseball game at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Wednesday.

FDU improves to 11-16 overall, as Purchase falls to 12-11.

The visiting Panthers collected two of their five hits in the game during the first inning off freshman starting pitcher Louis Scappaticcio. The rookie picked off the first runner, before escaping the inning with a double play (7-3).

Purchase rallied in the third inning to score two runs. Juniors Nick Lasala (Massapequa Park, NY) and Patrick Wallace (Manorville, NY) recorded RBI walks to score the runs, respectively.

The Panther lead would come to an end in the bottom half of the inning as FDU battled back, scoring four times to take a 4-2 lead. Junior Billy Podurgiel and sophomore Matt Nodoro led off with walks before each swiped a base, as Nate Peacock also earned a free pass to load the bases. Junior Michael Tufano hit into a double-play, but a run was able to cross the plate. Sophomore AJ Yurista and Kevin Smiegocki hit consecutive doubles to bring in two additional runs before senior Ian Havran tripled into left-center to plate Smiegocki.

Staked to the 4-2 lead, senior Brad Norris allowed just three baserunners heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Devils helped out Norris, tacking on an insurance run tally in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by the sophomore Nodoro. 

FDU closed out their scoring with three tallies in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore Joe Moskowitz, Podurgiel and Nodoro all walked to load the bases before a Peacock fielder's choice allowed Moskowitz to touch home. After Peacock stole second, Tufano lunged out and dropped a double down the right-field line which scored both Podurgiel and Peacock. Norris set the Panthers down in order in the top of the ninth, ending with an unassisted groundout to Smiegocki.

Norris hurled 6 2/3 innings of shutout relief to propel RDU to the 8-2 victory.  

Purchase freshman Alex Miller (Reno, NV) was tagged with his first career loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third inning.

The Panthers return to Skyline action this Saturday on their home diamond. The team looks to snap the five-game losing streak as they battle Skyline for St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) in a twin-bill starting at 11 a.m.

-FDU-Florham Sports Information contributed to this release