New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

ORLANDO, FL…Senior shortstop JOSE FULGENCIO (Bronx, NY/San Rafael (Dominican Republic) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a solo homerun to extend his two-year active hitting streak to 29 consecutive games—the longest known active string in NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA baseball, as the Gothic Knights scored single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to stun Aurora University, 3-2, in a spring game during the Russ Matt College Spring Break Invitational at McCracken Field on Friday.

 

NJCU improved to 2-0 on the season, while Aurora, a 2006 College World Series qualifier, drops to 5-5.

 

Senior centerfielder ROB SUMNER (Union, NJ/Union), who entered the game with 79 career stolen bases, swiped two bags in a 2-for-4, one RBI effort to break the all-time career stolen base record of 79 he had shared with Phil Zaffarano (1994-97). With 158 hits, he’s just nine behind Zaffarano’s school record of 167.

 

No Aurora players had multiple hits as six Gothic Knight pitchers combined on a five-hitter—all singles.

 

Senior lefty GEORGE JESSEN (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford), who entered in relief in the top of the eighth inning and fired two-thirds of an inning of hitless ball with one strikeout, earned the victory (1-0). Sophomore ALEX MENA (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) fired a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts in the first inning he has pitched in his career, to achieve a save.

 

Fulgencio was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run, and has now reached base in all 39 games of his NJCU career. He extended the hitting streak in the sixth inning when he crushed a one-out homerun to left field, which tied the game at 2-2.

 

In the eighth inning, Sumner had a leadoff bunt single, broke the school record with his 80^th steal, and scored on Fulgencio’s game-winning RBI single to right field before Mena retired the Spartans in the eighth inning.

 

Aurora did not have a player with multiple hits nor any extra base hits, but junior Martin Diaz (Aurora, IL/West Aurora) scored both runs, walking twice.

 

The Spartans struck first in the second inning when Diaz walked and scored off a pair of singles. NJCU tied it in the bottom of the third. Senior second baseman ANDREW DECIBUS (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) doubled with two outs and scored on an RBI single by Sumner.

 

Aurora regained a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth when Diaz, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored an unearned run. NJCU tied it with Fulgencio’s homer.

 

Senior righty JOSE SOTOMAYOR (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) pitched well in the start. In 4.2 innings, he allowed only one earned run and four hits. He struck out and walked three, facing 21 batters. Overall, NJCU used six pitchers. Freshman lefty MATT D’AMORE (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) allowed just one hit in a scoreless inning of relief and junior righty STEVE HALLAM (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) threw a perfect 1.1 innings, leading up to Jessen and Mena.

 

Aurora junior Dennis Vietoris (Plainfield, IL/Oak Lawn) allowed two earned runs and six hits, fanning six and walking none in 7.0 innings off work. Junior Chris Koudelka (Woodridge, IL/Downers Grove North) took the loss, allowing one run and two hits with a strikeout in the decisive eighth inning.