New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Junior shortstop JOSE FULGENCIO (Bronx, NY/San Rafael, Dominican Republic) went 3-for-5 with six RBIs, three runs, two triples and a double and junior right-hander BALDWIN VARGAS (New York, NY/Alfred Smith (NY)) tossed a 162-pitch nine-inning complete game as New Jersey City University won game two of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader against William Paterson University on Saturday, 14-6, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.

 

The Pioneers received a 6-for-6, four RBI, three-run effort from senior leftfielder Dan Reinertsen (Swartzwood, NJ/Kittatinny) as WPU won the opening game, 13-7, behind 18 hits.

 

With the split, NJCU improved to 9-9 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC. The Pioneers are 9-6-2 and 1-2-1 in the league. The win by NJCU snapped a 20-game losing streak against the perennial national powerhouse Pioneers, and was the Knights’ first against WPU since May 4, 1995, when then-Jersey City State College edged then William Paterson College, 11-10, in Jersey City.

 

******GAME 2: NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 14, WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY 6******

Fulgencio, the nephew of former New York Mets shortstop Rafael Santana, notched his second game with five or more RBIs this season. He had a double in NJCU’s three-run first inning and added triples in both the second and third innings as the Knights scored five and four runs, respectively in the two frames to open a 12-0 lead.

 

Fulgencio combined to go 4-for- 9 with eight RBIs, four runs, three extra base hits and two steals in the two games.

 

Junior rightfielder ANTHONY CACCHIOLA (Union, NJ/Union), the losing pitcher in game one, bounced back nicely with a 2-for-5, three RBI, two run showing, while freshman catcher ALEX MENA (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double.

 

Also for NJCU, junior third baseman RYAN PELT (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional) was 1-for-4 with four runs, two walks and one RBI. In the doubleheader he combined to finish 5-for-8 with six runs.

 

Junior first baseman RUBEN BORGES (Union, NJ/Union) extended his hitting streak to 10 games by going 2-for-5 with two runs and junior second baseman ANDREW DECIBUS (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) added a 2-for-5 showing. Rookie designated hitter JOSUE MARTINEZ (Bronx, NY/Walton) was 2-for-5 and junior centerfielder ROB SUMNER (Union, NJ/Union) stole his 15^th base. All nine starters for the Knights had at least one hit.

 

For WPU in game two, freshman rightfielder Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, NJ/Northern Highland) was 2-for-4, while Reinertsen went 2-for-5 with one run, finishing the day a combined 8-for-11. Senior centerfield Rick Pignatello (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) had two RBIs.

 

Vargas tossed a complete game, nine-inning performance, with eight strikeouts and five walks, allowing five earned runs and nine hits to even his record at 2-2. He faced four or less batters in seven of his nine innings of work.

WPU scored five of its six runs in the fourth inning to draw within 12-5 before the Knights tacked on single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. NJCU had 16 hits in the victory.

 

******GAME 1: WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY 13, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 7******

Behind the bat of Reinertsen, WPU broke open a 5-3 game with a single run in the sixth, two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, and three more in the ninth. NJCU scored three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth—an offensive surge that couldn’t win game one, but eventually carried over into game two.

Reinertsen had two doubles and two triples, while Guadango went 4-for-6 with four RBIs, three runs and a two-run homerun in the eighth. He was a combined 6-for-10 in the twinbill.

               

Pignatello was 2-for-6 with two runs, two RBIs, and two doubles, while senior third baseman Jon Marzella (Cedar Knolls, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) was 3-for-5 with a double and triple.

               

Pelt led NJCU in defeat with a 4-for-5, two-run effort, stealing two bases. Decibus was 2-for-4 with two runs and two steals, while senior leftfielder MATT CARAVANO (Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) added a 2-for-3 effort. Sophomore designated hitter TOM CRUDER (Union, NJ/Union) was 2-for-4. Fulgencio had two RBIs and two steals in the game—his 13^th in 13 attempts—before finally being thrown out for the first time this year.

               

WPU sophomore right-hander Don VandeVrede (Lincoln Park, NJ/Pequannock) earned his first win (1-0), tossing 6.0 innings over 101 pitches. He allowed two earned runs (three total) and nine hits, with six strikeouts and three walks.

               

NJCU returns to action on Tuesday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m. when it visits John Jay College in New York, NY. In that game, NJCU skipper KEN HEATON will seek his 250^th career win. WPU plays at the College of Staten Island at the same time.