New Jersey City University Athletics

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GAME PROGRAM/NOTES
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JERSEY CITY, NJ…Rutgers-Newark received a wind-aided grand slam from junior third baseman Joe Furnaguera (Springfield, NJ/Jonathan Dayton) to highlight a seven-run third inning, and that was all the offense needed as senior left-hander Kevin Matawa (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wallington) tossed a complete-game five-hitter as the Scarlet Raiders defeated New Jersey City University, 7-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on Thursday at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.

 

Newark (19-13, 7-8 NJAC) sweeps the season series and defeats NJCU (13-22-1, 3-12) for the fourth straight meeting. NJCU committed four errors in the game and 10 in a combined 17 innings against the Raiders this year. The game was played under blustery winds from Newark Bay that pushed numerous fly balls to right field.

 

Matawa (2-2) threw 104 pitches and went the distance for his first complete game of the year to help keep the Raiders alive in the NJAC Tournament race. In nine innings he allowed five hits—all singles—with three strikeouts and one walk.

 

Furnaguera's ninth homerun of the year was the 35^th hit in 32 games by the Raiders this year and blew open a 3-0 game, making it 7-0 in an inning where the Raiders had five hits and NJCU committed two errors. No player on either side had multiple hits. Senior right fielder Brian Gill (Wall, NJ/Wall) made 11 putouts and also had an outfield assist.

 

Sophomore shortstop MICHAEL FIORENTINO (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant) drove in NJCU's only run in the eighth inning with a shutout-busting sacrifice fly, scoring junior catcher ALEX MENA (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) who singled. Rookie second baseman ROB GONZALEZ (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) had his 56^th hit of the year for the Knights and senior center fielder MARK HOYER (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge (CA) collected his 97^th hit in 75 career games.

 

Junior right-hander STEPHEN MONTALBANO (North Brunswick, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) took the loss. Other than the third inning when he walked three batters, his outing was good. In 6.0 innings, he allowed only five hits, on six earned runs with four strikeouts and three walks.

 

Freshman righty RANDY PARISH (Rahway, NJ/Central (Brooksville, FL)) had a terrific relief stint. In 3.0 innings, he struck out six, walked none, and allowed just two singles. All three batters retired in the seventh inning were via the whiff. Entering the game, Parish had only eight strikeouts in his first 17.1 career innings before nearly doubling that total against Newark.

 

In the third inning, Newark sent 12 batters to the plate. Sophomore centerfielder Michael DiCenso (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) singled, moved to second on an error and eventually went to third when a fielder's choice failed to register an out and another Raider walked. A force play at the plate was errant as DiCenso scored the opening run on a throwing error. Sophomore shortstop Patrick Reitemeyer (Kearny, NJ/St. Mary's (Rutherford)) walked with the bases loaded to push in the eventual winning run and junior designated hitter Anthony Yeswita (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) also walked with the bases loaded for his 40^th RBI of the year and a 3-0 lead. Furnaguera lofted the next pitch into the right field sky and the wind carried it more than 340 feet over the fence for a grand slam and a 7-0 margin.

 

The Raiders didn't have a runner reach third base the remainder of the game, but the margin was enough to win.

 

NJCU will close its 2009 home schedule on Friday, April 24 at 3:30 p.m. when it hosts Montclair State University in an NJAC game. It will be Senior Day at NJCU. The Knights will honor six players—right fielder/catcher KRISTOPHER BRUS (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial), first baseman JOSE COLON (Brooklyn, NJ/LaSalle Academy (NY)), first baseman DAVID FLEISCHMAN (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne), right-handed pitcher STEVE HALLAM (Harrison, NJ/Harrison), MARK HOYER and left fielder JORGE PARDO (West New York, NJ/Memorial).