New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

CAMDEN, NJ…New Jersey City University junior shortstop JOSE FULGENCIO (Bronx, NY/San Rafael, Dominican Republic) moved within one game of tying the school record by extending his hitting streak to 22 consecutive games, and junior right-hander BALDWIN VARGAS (New York, NY/Aldred Smith (NY) recorded a huge save with a three-pitch strikeout, as the Gothic Knights defeated Rutgers University-Camden 7-5 in game one before losing the nightcap 11-5, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at Campbell’s Field.

 

NJCU improves to 14-18 overall with the split and is 3-11 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden is 13-19 and 2-11.

 

Fulgencio, who had three extra bases hits in two games and had two hits in each contest, now has the second longest streak in NJCU history and could tie the record of 23 games set by Don Nelson in 2001 at home on Tuesday, April 24 when the Gothic Knights host Baruch College at 4 p.m.

Fulgencio, the nephew of former New York Met and major leaguer Rafael Santana, also increased his RBI total to a conference-leading 41, tying for second on NJCU’s single-season lists.

 

Junior centerfielder ROB SUMNER (Union, NJ/Union) scored his 39^th run of the season—seven shy of breaking his own single season record, and added two steals for an NJAC best 21 overall. With three runs in two games, he moved into second place in NJCU history with 130, passing Sean Costello (1984-87, 128 runs). He needs three more to break the program record of 132 by Phil Zaffarano from 1994-97.

 

Additionally, Sumner notched his 150^th career hit, becoming just the fifth NJCU player to do that. He also moved into fifth place in career RBIs (88) and bagged his 75^th career steal—four shy of tying Zaffarano’s career record of 79.

 

***********************GAME 1: NJCU 7, Rutgers-Camden 5 *********************

Four NJCU players had multiple hits in game one as the Knights banged out 10 overall. Junior second baseman ANDREW DECIBUS (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) was 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI while junior leftfielder MICHAEL McCORMICK (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) went 2-for-4 with two runs. Junior rightfielder ANTHONY CACCHIOLA (Union, NJ/Union) was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.

 

Fulgencio finished 2-for-5 with his NJAC-leading 13^th double and his 20^th steal. Sumner had two RBIs, one run and his 20^th steal.

 

Senior left fielder Mike Morris (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run, while freshman designated hitter Vince Giunta (Sewell, NJ/Clearview Regional) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

 

NJCU junior RAMADAN MEHMEDI (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) worked four strong innings of relief to win (1-0) the opener—his first win as a Knight—allowing just one hit and two runs with three strikeouts and two walks.

 

In the opener, the Gothic Knights raced to a 5-0 lead after 2-1/2 innings and held on for the win when Vargas entered the game with the tying runs in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning and recorded a game-ending strikeout.

 

ANDREW DECIBUS" src="/images/baseball/2007/4/21/03-30-07%20Andrew%20Decibus%206.JPG" width=150 align=left border=0>NJCU took the lead for good in the first inning. After a leadoff walk to Sumner and a single by Decibus, they teamed for a double steal, with Sumner swiping home. The Knights padded their lead with three runs on three hits in the second inning. A squeeze bunt by junior third baseman RYAN PELT (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional), a Sumner sac fly, and a Decibus RBI single accounted for the scoring. In the third NJCU moved ahead 5-0 on a bases-loaded walk to sophomore catcher #FERNANDO ESPINOSA, Jr.# (Newark, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep).

 

Rutgers-Camden chipped away with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, finally chasing NJCU starter AHSON SHAHID (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) in the fifth, one out shy of qualifying for the win. Shahid allowed three earned runs and seven hits, with two walks and a strikeout in 4.2 innings. Mehmedi was charged with a pair of runs in the ninth inning on a two-run double by Morris before Vargas nailed down the win.

 

Camden freshman starter Perry Tate (Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) took the loss. Tate (1-1) worked 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, four walks and five runs, four earned. He didn’t strike out a batter.

 

***********************GAME 2: Rutgers-Camden 11, NJCU 5 *********************

In the nightcap, Fulgencio and Sumner—NJCU’s top two offensive players all year—were the only ones with multiple hits. Sumner was 2-for-3 with two runs, while Fulgencio was 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run, including two triples. He now has seven three-baggers—one shy of equaling the single-season record.

 

Junior righty JOSE SOTOMAYOR (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) took the loss (2-2) for NJCU, allowing four earned runs (seven total) and six hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 2.0 innings. In defeat, rookie righty JOSEPH OLMO (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) had another outstanding relief appearance. In 2.2 innings, he allowed just one hit, struck out one, and walked two. Senior lefty MIKE ESPIN (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) was even more solid, pitching a perfect two innings with two strikeouts.

 

Morris went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs for Camden while freshman designated hitter Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) and freshman first baseman Dan Stuhlemmer (Collingswood, NJ/Camden Catholic) were each 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Giunta had two RBIs and senior center fielder Nate Buchter (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) scored three times.

 

Sophomore starter Pat Faulls (Laurel Springs, NJ/Highland Regional) picked up the win (2-2), allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned) in seven innings. He walked two and struck out six. Junior John Gladden (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) closed out the game with two shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.

 

NJCU opened the scoring with a Sumner single and a Fulgencio triple in the first inning, but the Scarlet Raptors bounced back with two in the first on three hits, then put the game away with a five-run second inning. NJCU added a run in the third and two in the fourth, but Camden countered with four markers in the bottom of the inning for an 11-4 lead. NJCU’s final run came in the seventh.