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Perry Ties Record as Devils Drop Two to Cougars
Senior first baseman Mark Perry tied the University of the Sciences all-time hit record with a single in the fifth inning but the Devils failed to muster up enough offense as host Caldwell College completed a two-game sweep 4-3 and 6-2 Saturday afternoon in Caldwell, New Jersey.
The Devils fall to 8-17 overall and 6-7 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games. Caldwell improves to 13-15 overall and 8-5 in league play.
Perry entered the game with 138 career hits, tied for second place on the all-time list with Doug Smith (2002-05). After lining out to right field and grounding out his first two at-bats, Perry delivered a two-out single up the middle in the fifth inning, for his 139th career hit, tying him for the Devils all-time lead with Vincent Madeline (2000-03). Perry flied out in his final plate appearance in the first game and was held hitless in the nightcap.
The Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opener, getting a pair of runs in the second, the first on an infield error and the second on a groundout by Jay Andrews. Andrews later had a two-out double in the fourth and came around to score on Nick Szalejko's single.
Caldwell got two back in the seventh on a walk and a pair of extra base hits by Stephen Dodd and Joe O'Donnell and tied the game in the eighth on an RBI single from O'Donnell. In the ninth, Dodd led off the inning with a single. He then stole second, and later advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. After the Devils intentionally walked the next two batters, Joe Doerrer laced a single into right to drive home Dodd with the game-winning run.
Adam Kissinger took the loss for the Devils, working the final 1 2/3 innings in relief of Greg Nealis. Kissinger gave up three hits and walked three (two intentionally) while surrendering the final two Caldwell runs.
In the nightcap, Szalejko was hit by a pitch for a league-leading 16th time and later added a single to extend his hitting streak to 13 games as the Devils lost 6-2. Szalejko was hit to open the game and later came around to score on a RBI single from Kyle Davis and give the Devils and early 1-0 lead.
The Cougars bounced back with single runs in the first and second and two more in the third to take a 4-1 lead before the Devils got back on the board in the top half of the fourth. Singles fromDennis Murphy, Lou Tomasetti and Jeff Murtha loaded the bases for Szalejko who drew a walk to plate Murphy with the second USciences run.
Caldwell scored again in the bottom of the fourth and added another in the fifth to end starterNick Kuklane's day and take a 6-2 lead. Kuklane wound up with the loss, giving up ten hits and all six runs (three earned) in 4+ innings of work. The Devils finished the game with eight hits, all singles with two coming off the bat of Davis.
The Devils return to action on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 when they face West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania for a single game.
