New Jersey City University Athletics

STATEN ISLAND, NY…Senior second baseman ANDREW DECIBUS (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) was a combined 5-for-8 with six RBIs, and scored the go-ahead run in game two all the way from second base on a suicide squeeze, and senior centerfielder ROB SUMNER (Union, NJ/Union) had five runs and five stolen bases, to break the century mark in swipes, as a senior-laden New Jersey City University lineup made the Gothic Knights winners on the final day of the 2008 season, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from College of Staten Island, 7-4 and 5-4, Friday night at the CSI Baseball Complex.

 

NJCU finished the 2008 season on a four-game winning streak, to conclude the year 14-26 overall while playing a full 40-game schedule for only the second time in school history. CSI, which will be the #1 seed in the CUNYAC conference tournament next week, finished the regular season 18-18 overall. NJCU won three of four meetings between the schools this season, including the final three games.

 

ROB SUMNER" src="/images/baseball/2008/5/3/3-13-07%20Rob%20Sumner%2040.JPG" width=150 align=left border=0>Sumner, who already was the school’s all-time leader in steals, entered the doubleheader with 96. He swiped three in game one and two in game two, to become the first NJCU player to reach the century plateau. He also broke the all-time program record for career at-bats with 512, topping the mark of 509 by Phil Zaffarano (1994-97). In all, Sumner leaves NJCU as the all-time leader in eight categories—hits (196), runs (174), total bases (291), at bats, steals (101), steal attempts (119), games (138) and starts (136).

 

Meanwhile, Decibus entered the final doubleheader of his career ninth in school history with a .361 average, but with his sensational going-away party at the plate, climbed all the way to sixth place in NJCU’s record books with a .369 career average (90-244), improving his two-year career average eight points in one evening.

 

Senior left-hander GEORGE JESSEN (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) was the winner in game one, making a school record 50^th career appearance, while tying the single-season mark with 19. Junior righty STEVE HALLAM (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) earned his first career save in the opener, and in doing so, made his 20^th appearance of the season to regain the single-season record.

 

Senior BALDWIN VARGAS (New York, NY/Alfred Smith (NY) tossed a seven-inning complete-game performance in the nightcap, striking out eight, while allowing just one earned run and five hits. In the final 14 innings of his NJCU career, he struck out 22 batters.

 

***********GAME 1: New Jersey City University 7, College of Staten Island 4 ***********

In game one, NJCU scored five times in the fourth inning aided by a Staten Island error, after taking the lead with runs in the first and third, and built a 7-0 margin behind a five-inning, four-hit performance by Jessen. CSI scored four times in the sixth inning off the NJCU bullpen, before Hallam recorded a four-out save.

 

Decibus went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three singles while Sumner walked twice, scoring three runs with three steals. Junior designated hitter MARK HOYER (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge (CA)) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

GEORGE JESSEN" src="/images/baseball/2008/5/3/05-01-05%20George%20Jessen%2014.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>

Jessen went 5.0 innings, allowing only four singles, and did not allow a run, despite being a bit wild with five walks and no strikeouts over 78 pitches, improving to 2-0 on the season. It was his first start of the year. Senior righty AHSON SHAHID (Harrison, NJ/Harrison), who won nine games in his NJCU career, lasted 0.2 innings in relief, allowing four runs. Hallam pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn the save. He entered with one on in the sixth and pitched NJCU out of trouble. He did not allow a hit in his relief appearance.

 

CSI received a 3-for-4 effort from freshman shortstop/third baseman Mark Glennerster (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s) while junior shortstop Anthony Piccirillo (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and one run. Sophomore third/second baseman Brian Phillipps (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) walked three times.

 

Freshman lefty James Mardikos (Staten Island, NY/Petrides) took the loss (3-4). He allowed seven runs, but just one was earned, against five hits. He struck out two and walked three. Senior lefty John Sullivan (Staten Island, NY/Wagner) allowed two hits with two Ks and one walk in three innings of relief.

 

In the first inning, Sumner reached on an error, and then stole second and third, before scoring on a Hoyer sacrifice fly. In the third inning, Sumner drew a two-out walk, and forced Mardikos into a balk. He used his speed to swipe third for his 100^th career steal, and scored on an RBI single by Decibus.

 

In the fourth inning, junior KRISTOPHER BRUS (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) singled before sophomore catcher ALEX MENA (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) reached on an error. NJCU lined out for the second out, but capitalized on the error as freshman shortstop TOM BURKE (Edison, NJ/Immaculata) had an RBI double before Mena scored on a passed ball for a 4-0 lead. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Decibus delivered a two-run single to left center for a 6-0 margin, and Sumner, who had walked, scored on an RBI single by Hoyer.

 

In the sixth, CSI scored four times. Piccirillo had a two-run single, Glennerster had an RBI groundout, and the Dolphins added another RBI on a ground ball to cut the deficit to 7-4. But Hallam entered in relief and closed the door on the Dolphins, solving the case for NJCU with four outs as the Knights knocked off CSI.

***********GAME 2: New Jersey City University 5, College of Staten Island 4 ***********

Decibus was yet again the star in game two. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and scored the games’ go-ahead run, but was most valuable with his heads-up baserunning.

 

Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, Decibus lifted the first pitch he saw into right center for a two-RBI double, scoring senior rightfielder ANTHONY MACKOW (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and sophomore designated hitter EDDIE GONZALO (Union City, NJ/Union Hill), who had both walked. Meanwhile, the hit should have been a single, but Decibus was aggressive right out of the box, and beat the throw to second, stretching his hit into a double.

 

That proved important on the next play. On a designed suicide squeeze, Hoyer, who finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBIs, placed a perfect bunt between the pitcher’s mound and first, scoring Sumner, who was the third consecutive NJCU player to walk in the inning, with the tying run. But Decibus never stopped running from second base on the squeeze and slid in with the go-ahead run prior to the tag, as NJCU gained a 4-3 lead.

 

The top of the order for NJCU, Sumner (1-for-2, two runs), Decibus and Hoyer accounted for four of NJCU’s five hits in the game.

 

CSI, which did not have an extra base hit in either game of the doubleheader, was limited to five hits by Vargas. Senior leftfielder Matt Thompson (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Vargas was solid yet again, tossing a complete-game effort with eight strikeouts versus five walks, while allowing one earned run and five hits.

 

CSI took a 1-0 lead in the third. After an NJCU error, sophomore rightfielder Thomas DeWaters (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) had a bunt RBI single. The Dolphins tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, again aided by one of three NJCU errors in the game. Thompson pulled a two-run single through the right side as CSI built a 3-0 lead.

BALDWIN VARGAS" src="/images/baseball/2008/5/3/3-13-07%20Baldwin%20Vargas%203.JPG" width=150 align=left border=0>

But NJCU scored four times in the fifth led by Decibus for a 4-3 lead. In the fifth, the combination of Sumner-Decibus provided a crucial insurance run. Sumner had a two-out single up the middle, stole second and scored on an RBI single to left center by Decibus.

 

With several reserves, including a first-time catcher in the game in the seventh inning and the NJCU defensive setup changed, CSI nearly tied the game. With two outs, a passed ball and wild pitch allowed Piccirillo to score, making it 5-4, and the tying run stood at third base. But with Decibus now playing shortstop and Hoyer in at second base, Vargas (2-4)forced CSI into a game-ending 6-4 groundout as NJCU held on, for a 5-4 victory.

 

Sophomore lefty Pat Gale (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) took the loss for CSI (3-2) walking seven and striking out three, while allowing two hits but four earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.