BOX SCORE
MADISON, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...New Jersey City University overcame three lengthy lightning delays , and led by a pair of 2-for-3 efforts from junior center fielder KEN WITTE (Wantage, NJ/High Point Regional) and sophomore catcher FRANCISCO RAMIREZ (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) defeated Drew University, 3-1, in a non-conference game on Wednesday at Doc Young Field. The official contest was halted due to darkness after nearly four hours of game action and weather delays.
The two schools each received solid pitching performances and combined for just 11 hits but NJCU scored single runs in the first, third and fifth innings to counter the lone Ranger run in the bottom of the first.
With its second straight win, NJCU improves to 12-19 and 11-8 in non-conference games, while defeating Drew (7-26) for the fourth straight meeting since the 2002 season.
NJCU rookie right-hander WENDELL RODRIGUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep), making his third career start, earned the win to up his overall record to 4-0. In 6.0 innings, he did not allow an earned run and scattered five hits—including four singles, with three strikeouts and no walks over a tidy 50 pitches.
Drew freshman Patrick Rock (Cranston, RI) pitched well enough to win but the righty suffered the loss (2-4), allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits in 6.0 innings, fanning three and walking one over 78 pitches.
Ramirez was 2-for-3 with one RBI, posting his 13th double of the season. He became just the 10th player in program history with 13 or more doubles in one season.
Witte was 2-for-3 with a run, RBI and his 11th two-bagger of the year. Witte extended his hitting streak to 12 games and applied his 18th multiple-hit game of the season. Sophomore left fielder ROB GONZALEZ (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) stole his 20th base of the season, marking the second year in a row he has reached the 20-steal plateau.
Drew, which didn't have a player with multiple hits, received a 1-for-3 effort with one RBI from sophomore designated hitter Tom Murray (Brick, NJ).
NJCU gained a 1-0 first inning lead as Witte doubled down the right field line, stole third and scored when Ramirez drove a two-out single through the left side of the infield. Drew's lone run came in the bottom of the inning. After an error extended the inning, Murray notched a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield. Drew also stranded two runners on in the second inning.
Freshman second baseman BRIAN BUSTILLO (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) walked to lead off the third inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored when Witte singled to right field. NJCU grabbed a 2-1 lead before the storms came in the fourth inning, forcing a mandatory delay.
After several interruptions, the game resumed. Ramirez led off the fourth inning with a double but NJCU left two men on base in the frame with a chance to extend the lead, before securing an insurance run in the fifth inning. Bustillo singled to lead off the fifth. He was erased on a fielder's choice that allowed Gonzalez to reach base. Gonzalez stole second for his 20th swipe of the year and moved to third on the throw, before scoring on an error. Rodriguez limited the Rangers to one hit after gaining the two-run lead, before darkness forced the game to end.
NJCU is back in action on Friday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. when it hosts Rutgers-Newark in a New Jersey Athletic Conference home game at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010 | Madison, NJ
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New Jersey City University (12-19)
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1
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0
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1
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0
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1
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0
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X
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X
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X
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3
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6
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2
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Drew University (7-26)
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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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X
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X
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X
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1
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5
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1
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WP: WENDELL RODRIGUEZ (4-0). LP: Patrick Rock (2-4).
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