Box Score
Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball team dropped a 13-10 decision to Farleigh Dickinson University-Florham in a slugfest on Tuesday afternoon in George Ackerman Park.
 
In a game that featured 23 runs on 34 hits, the Lions came out on the short end despite five errors on defense by the Devils. TCNJ fell to 17-14 on the season, while FDU-Florham improved to 17-10.
 
FDU put up five runs in the second inning to quickly take command of the game. Frank Tassielli stroked a two-run single and catcher Kevin Sinclair belted a two-run double to highlight the offensive outburst.
 
The Lions retaliated for four runs in the bottom of the frame. Run-scoring singles by Mark Mari (Bayonne, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) were sandwiched around a two-run single off the bat of freshman Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee).
 
The Devils extended their lead to 8-4 in fourth when Frank LaGuarina launched a three-run home run onto the townhouses in left field. It was the second round-tripper this season for LaGuarina.
 
Down 9-4 in the fifth, TCNJ rallied to plate five runs and tie the game. With two outs, the Lions rattled off six consecutive singles to score five baserunners and even the score.
 
In the seventh, TCNJ took its first lead of the game. With two outs, Rizzi reached on an error and junior Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) drilled a triple to left-center field to chase Rizzi and give the Lions a 10-9 lead. Cocuzza was playing in his 100^th career game for TCNJ.
 
FDU, however, stayed hot at the plate. They banged out four hits and scored two runs in the eighth, and plated two more in the ninth on four more hits. Tassielli finished with four hits and drove in three. Sinclair and LaGuarina each drove in four runs on two hits.
 
Ryan Thurnes registered his first mound victory of the year and Bobby Bray closed out the ninth for his fourth save.
 
Cocuzza finished with three hits, while Rizzi, Mari, Varone, and Pat Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) each collected two hits. Varone drove in three runs in the loss.
 
TCNJ visits Rowan University on Thursday for a New Jersey Athletic Conference match-up. They return home to play the Profs on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in George Ackerman Park.