BOX SCORE: Game 1 | Game 2
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES
JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...New Jersey City University held a lead in each game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader against Rutgers University-Camden, before the Scarlet Raptors rallied in the late innings of each game to sweep the Gothic Knights, 4-2 and 5-4, on Saturday at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
Camden evens its NJAC record at .500 (5-5) and improves to 15-11 overall. NJCU (10-19, 1-11 NJAC) loses its seventh straight game and fifth in a row by four or fewer runs.
NJCU led 2-1 entering the eighth inning of game one before senior right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) put the Raptors ahead 3-2. Camden added a ninth inning run on an NJCU dropped fly and handed the ball to senior Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran), who recorded two saves in the doubleheader. Ballay, who entered the twinbill without allowing a run or hit this season earned a two-out save in game one.
In game two, NJCU trailed 3-0 before claiming a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning on a bases-clearing three-run double to right by junior right fielder JORGE GUTIERREZ (Sewaren, NJ/Hudson Catholic). Camden senior first baseman Matt Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) answered by hitting a two-run homerun to right in the top of the seventh for a 5-4 lead. Ballay, the starting shortstop in both games, pitched the final two innings for another save, striking out two batters with one single against.
****************GAME 1: RUTGERS-CAMDEN 4, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 2*****************
In a pitcher's duel for much of the game, NJCU did not get its first hit until the fifth inning, when it scored twice for a 2-1 lead.
For the visitors, sophomore right-hander Andrew Hoffman (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) threw 142 pitches over 8.0 innings for the win (3-3), allowing two runs and eight hits, with five strikeouts and five walks. Ballay, who was 2-for-5 with one run offensively at shortstop, faced two batters for his third save, coercing a ground ball for a double play and a fly out to center.
Junior righty JEFF KARCZEWSKI (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West), the reigning NJAC Pitcher of the Week, suffered his first loss (3-1) despite pitching very effectively. In 7.1 innings, he allowed three runs and seven hits, with three strikeouts and four walks.
Sophomore righty RANDY PARISH (Rahway, NJ/Central (Brooksville, FL)) had a solid relief stint. In 1.2 innings, he gave up one hit and one unearned run, with one strikeout and no walks.
Junior left/centerfielder (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach) tallied NJCU's two RBIs. NJCU stranded 11 runners in the game.
Matt Hunt was 2-for-4 for the Raptors while Myers had the winning double and two RBIs. Camden left 10 runners on base.
The Raptors took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Senior center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI triple by senior third baseman Jaime Williams (Vineland, NJ/Delsea Regional).
That was all the scoring until the fifth. Camden left two men on in the third and fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, freshman third baseman BRIAN BUSTILLO (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) walked, was sacrificed to second and scored when Gonzalez punched an RBI single down the left field line. Witte walked, moving Gonzalez to second, before Fiorentino followed with a single for his 36th RBI of the season and 94th career hit.
But NJCU stranded two on base and wouldn't score again. The Knights would also threaten in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings before leaving two men on in each frame.
In the top of the eighth, senior catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and sophomore second baseman Jon Hydock (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) singled before scoring the tying and go-ahead runs on Myers' two-run double. In the ninth, Ballay doubled to left and scored when what would have been the third out of the inning was dropped by a defensive replacement following an NJCU injury. Witte led off the ninth with a single, before Ballay entered and registered the save.
****************GAME 2: RUTGERS-CAMDEN 5, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 4*****************
Game two was another low scoring contest as each team received efficient pitching performances. Junior righty Dan Fimiani (Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) tossed 7.0 innings for the win (2-1), allowing four runs and nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks over 99 pitches. Ballay threw 2.0 innings, facing eight batters for his fourth save, with the two strikeouts and lone single against.
Junior TOM BURKE (Edison, NJ/Immaculata), NJCU's shortstop in game one, started on the mound for the first time this season and pitched well. Over 97 pitches in 7.0 innings, he allowed just five runs and six hits, with one strikeout and three walks.
Gonzalez led all players, going 3-for-5 with one RBI. Gutierrez was 1-for-4 with the three-RBI double and sophomore designated hitter FRANCISCO RAMIREZ (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) was 2-for-3.
Hydock went 2-for-4 with two runs for the Scarlet Raptors. Williams was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run as the No. 9 hitter and Hunt was 1-for-5 with his two-run homer.
Each team was retired in order in the first inning. NJCU received a nice highlight defensive gem from Fiorentino at shortstop, diving up the middle to stop a Ballay ground ball, before Fiorentino threw him out at first while lying on his side behind second base.
In the second inning, Camden gained a 2-0 lead. Hydock singled, Fruits walked and Myers had an infield bunt single to load the bases before a Williams two-run single brought in two. NJCU had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the inning, but failed to score.
Camden added a run in the fourth. Hydock led off with a double and scored on a Fruits groundout for a 3-0 lead. NJCU made it 3-1 in the fifth. Bustillo walked and moved to third on a double by junior left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison). Gonzalez singled down the left field line to score Bustillo. With runners on the corners and one out, NJCU attempted a delayed double steal. However, Greg Hunt threw Gonzalez out at second and blocked home plate to avoid Rivera from stealing a run after a throw home by Hydock.
Despite this misfortunate in the fifth inning, NJCU moved ahead 4-3 in the sixth. Witte led off with a single, Ramirez walked and senior catcher ALEX MENA (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) singled to load the bases. Gutierrez lofted a double to right scoring all three players.
But in the seventh, Williams led off with a walk for the Raptors and with two outs, Hunt registered his third homerun of the season over the right field fence.
In the ninth inning, Camden had a chance to extend the lead. NJCU freshman righty WENDELL RODRIGUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) had a solid two innings of relief. He allowed three hits, facing eight batters, but prevented the visitors from scoring with an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
With two outs in the ninth against Ballay, Gonzalez singled on a 0-2 pitch to center. Witte lined a 3-2 pitch into the right-center field gap. Had it fallen, Gonzalez would have scored the tying run from first, but Fruits made a diving catch in center on the scorcher to end the game.
NJCU is back in action on Sunday, April 18 at 2 p.m. in a non-conference game against John Jay College. Camden visits Penn State-Abington on April 19 at 7 p.m.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Game 1: Saturday, April 17, 2010 | Jersey City, NJ
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Rutgers University-Camden (14-11, 4-5 NJAC)
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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2
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1
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4
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8
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0
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New Jersey City University (10-18, 1-10 NJAC)
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0
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0
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0
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0
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2
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0
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0
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0
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0
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2
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8
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2
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WP: Andrew Hoffman (3-3). LP: JEFF KARCZEWSKI (3-1). SV: Kyle Ballay (3)
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Game 2: Saturday, April 17, 2010 | Jersey City, NJ
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Rutgers University-Camden (15-11, 5-5 NJAC)
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0
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2
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0
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1
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0
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0
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2
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0
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0
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5
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9
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0
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New Jersey City University (10-19, 1-11 NJAC)
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0
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0
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0
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0
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1
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3
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0
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0
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0
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4
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10
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1
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WP: Dan Fimiani (2-1). LP: TOM BURKE (0-1). SV: Kyle Ballay (4). HR: Matt Hunt (1).
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