TEANECK, N.J.– Eastern University Baseball used solid pitching and a few key hits to earn a 5-3 road win over FDU-Florham. Tyler Bennett struck out eight hitters and allowed only two runs in seven innings of work. Steve Sattanino came on in relief to score the winning run and earn the win. 

How It Happened:
The Devils (8-14, 2-8)  scored the first run of the game on two hits and a walk in the bottom of the first. The Eastern bats were quiet until the fifth. 

Kyle Daddario started the rally with a lead-off single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on an error. After Zach Belansek walked, Jordan Laboy delivered the big blow of the inning with a 2-RBI triple to left center field. 

Bennett faced the minimum in the bottom of the fifth and the Eagles loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth. The Devils worked out of the jam with a short fly ball and a double=-play.

The Devils tied the game after a lead-off double in the bottom of the sixth. The hosts moved the runner to third with a bunt and plated him with a fly ball. 

Bennett finished his day with two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh. The Eagles then put their sophomore southpaw in line for the win with a single tally in the eighth. Shane Alberston reached on an infield hit and moved to third on a single from Liam Clarke. After Clarke stole second, Albertson scored on a fielders choice on a ground ball. The Eagles nearly doubled the lead, but Clarke was cut down at home on a Daddario ground ball. 

Alberston, who started the game at second, came on to pitch in the eighth. He worked around a pair of hits to throw a scoreless inning. The Eagles went quietly in the ninth and Albertson struck out the first hitter in the bottom of the ninth. 

The second hitter reached on an error. Albertson got the next hitter on strikes, but an infield single put the runner in scoring position. After the next hitter singled to drive in the run, Sattanino came on to close down the inning. Matt McHale made a diving catch on a sinking line drive in center field to give the Eagles another at bat. 

With the DH gone, the Eastern staff had a choice with what to do with Sattanino. The sophomore right-hander had not had a collegiate at bat, but was slated to lead off off the tenth. Rather than lose his presence on the mound, the Eastern staff elected to send Sattanino to the plate. The pitcher made good use of his first at bat. He hit a 1-2 pitch into center field to start the rally. Albertson moved him over with a bunt. Clarke then doubled to drive in his eighth run in the last five games. He is 10-for-18 with a walk and two hit-by-pitches in the stretch.

Britton Lawrence then drove in the insurance run with his first hit of the afternoon. In the tenth, Sattanino allowed a one-out single before ending the game with a double-play. Sattanino is 3-0 on the year.

Coach Renauro Says:
"The pitching today was phenomenal and kept us in the entire game. Our hitting approaches started to come together later in the game. Laboy's triple got us going. From there we were able to attack their bullpen and get to the next guy. After a strong start from Bennett, Albertson came in and threw well. We just couldn't shut the door by making the necessary defensive plays, until Matt made the diving catch to keep us alive. Steve came into the game and did it all for the team to come in and shut the door for good in the tenth."

Up Next:
The Eagles (8-15, 4-5 MAC Freedom) look to continue their four-game winning streak when they host FDU-Florham in a doubleheader at The Yard tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.