But despite the offensive outburst and a 16-14 lead heading into the final inning, RCNJ demonstrated resiliency with five runs and seven hits in the ninth. After a leadoff groundout, junior left fielder Kevin Knox (Matawan, NJ/Matawan) lofted a 3-2 pitch for bloop double that fell between three NJCU players near the foul line and senior second baseman Pat Driscoll (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) deposited a 2-2 pitch as a bloop RBI single in the same vicinity for a 16-15 margin. A pop fly accounted for the second out with the Knights three strikes away from victory.
But junior first baseman Dan Moreno (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) singled for runners on the corners and senior catcher Peter Dacenko (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) doubled to left center on another 2-2 pitch to tie the game. Junior Joseph Somma (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) pinch hit and was down to his final strike. On a 3-2 offering he singled to right center, scoring Moreno and Dacenko for two RBIs, the go-ahead runs and an 18-16 lead—Ramapo's first advantage since leading 7-3 after the top of the third.
Senior right/center fielder Nicholas DiGirolamo (Dumont, NJ/Dumont) followed with a single and senior shortstop Rob Dimperio (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) doubled to left field for a 19-16 lead before DiGirolamo was gunned down at the plate on a relay throw from sophomore left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison) and junior shortstop ROB GONZALEZ (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) to rookie catcher ANDRE SANCHEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) to end the inning.
Sophomore right-hander Travis Zilg (North Caldwell, NJ/West Essex), this week's NJAC Pitcher of the Week, entered in relief and allowed one hit in 1.2 innings of relief with three strikeouts. He earned the win (5-2) after allowing just one base-runner in the ninth for NJCU to close the game.
In defeat for NJCU, Rivera was 2-for-5 with four RBIs, including a three-run triple, and one run and Gonzalez was 4-for-6 with four runs. He moved into sole possession of fifth place in school history with 157 hits, passing Dave Long (1987-90, 154 hits) on the all-time list.
Senior first baseman JORDAN TETRICK (Delray Beach, FL/Radnor (Pa.)) was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and his fourth homerun of the season. Junior second baseman CHRISTOPHER MIRABILE (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) entered as a defensive replacement and finished 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run. Junior designated hitter FRANCISCO RAMIREZ (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run and senior right fielder JORGE GUTIERREZ (Sewaren, NJ/Hudson Catholic) added two RBIs and two runs with one hit.
Also for the Knights, Sanchez notched his first career hit in his first career start—a two-run homerun down the left field line in the third inning. Senior center fielder KEN WITTE (Wantage, NJ/High Point Regional) had his 91st career hit and scored twice. Every position player who had an initial at bat in the game had at least one hit for NJCU.
Meanwhile, Ramapo had six players register multiple hits, led by Dacenko who was 5-for-7 with five runs, two RBIs, two doubles and his second homer of the season. DiGirolamo was 4-for-7 with four RBIs, two runs and a double and Moreno added three runs, three RBIs, his second homer of the year and three hits in six at-bats. Dimperio finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
Ramapo sophomore third baseman Christian Spurr (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills) hit his fourth homer of the season and had two runs and two RBIs. Knox was 2-for-7 with two runs. Driscoll batted 2-for-5 and sophomore designated hitter Matthew Hancock (Old Lyme, CT/Xavier) was 2-for-2 with four walks and two runs.
NJCU sophomore righty WENDELL RODRIGUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep), who tossed a 107-pitch, four-hitter in a loss to #3 ranked Kean University on Thursday, gutted out an 88-pitch three-inning relief appearance for the Knights on just three days rest and despite being arguably the club's hottest pitcher, took the loss (1-6), allowing eight runs and 11 hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Senior righty JEFF KARCZEWSKI (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) started, tossed 2.2 innings and received a no-decision. NJCU went in front with senior righty WESTLEY LOPEZ (West New York, NJ/Memorial) on the mound, who lost a bid for his first win of the year when the Knights couldn't hold the seven-run lead. The senior allowed two earned runs and five hits with two walks and one strikeout in 2.1 innings of relief. Rookie ZACK MARKLE (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) faced six batters in the sixth inning when Ramapo scored four runs, and was able to strand the bases loaded without allowing a hit or run (two walks).
Senior righty Tim Hannes (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands) was the starter for Ramapo, and allowed nine runs against six hits and four walks (one strikeout) in 2.1 innings but received a no-decision. RCNJ used five pitchers. Sophomore righty Brendan Kalinowski (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) allowed two runs and two hits without recording an out. Sophomore righty John McNeil (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) had the longest life span of the nine pitcher used in the contest, lasting 5.0 innings. He allowed three earned runs and seven hits with two strikeouts over 66 pitches. Junior righty Matt Jenisch (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) allowed one run and one hit in the eighth inning over five pitches before being relieved by Zilg.
Ramapo opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first inning as Moreno and Dacenko hit back-to-back homers to left field; Moreno's was a two-run shot.
NJCU used the long ball to get even in the bottom of the frame. Gonzalez singled, stole second, and scored on a grounder by Ramirez. Witte walked and Tetrick unleashed a two-run bomb to left center for a 3-3 tie.
Ramapo scored four times in the third for a 7-3 margin. DiGirolamo had an RBI double and Dimperio had a sacrifice fly before an RBI single by Knox and bases loaded walk by Driscoll added to the cushion.
NJCU sent 14 batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring nine times on nine hits. Gonzalez and Mirabile each equaled a school record with two hits in the same inning, while Ramirez reached base twice in the frame. Gonzalez and Mirabile singled and Ramirez walked and with one out after a caught stealing, Witte had an RBI single. Tetrick singled to load the bases and Gutierrez and senior third baseman MICHAEL FIORENTINO (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach) forced back-to-back walks to push in runs as NJCU clawed within a run, 7-6. With the bases still full of Gothic Knights, Rivera tripled to deep left center, clearing the bases for three RBIs and a 9-7 lead. Sanchez came to the plate and on a 2-2 pitch lofted a long fly ball down the left field line that cleared the wall for a two-run homer and an 11-7 margin. After a pitching change, Gonzalez singled, stole second and third and scored NJCU's 12th run on an RBI single by Mirabile. Ramirez had a double down the left field line and NJCU had two runners in scoring position with one out before McNeil, in relief, was able to retire the next two batters to end the drama.
NJCU extended the lead to 14-7 with two runs in the fifth inning. Gonzalez and Mirabile singled and Ramirez added an RBI single for the Knights' third hit of the inning. Tetrick drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
Ramapo chipped away at the lead scoring four times in the sixth inning. Dacenko had a leadoff double and Hancock walked before DiGirolamo and Dimperio notched RBI singles. After a throwing error extended the inning, DiGirolamo scored on the error and Moreno drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the NJCU lead to 14-11.
Ramapo tied it in the top of the eighth with three runs—all with two outs. Spurr homered on a 3-2 pitch to left field. Moreno and Dacenko singled and Hancock walked to load the bases before DiGirolamo tallied a two-run single to left field on the seventh pitch of the at-bat to tie the game at 14-14.
After surrendering the lead, NJCU regained a two-run advantage with two runs in the eighth inning. With one out Tetrick aired out a long fly ball down the left field line that Knox was unable to hold onto as he leaned against the outfield fence. Tetrick moved to second on the error and rookie ALEX TERAN (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) pinch ran, scoring on an RBI double to left center by Gutierrez. Zilg entered in relief and struck out Fiorentino for the second out before Rivera slipped a 1-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single and a 16-14 lead. He eventually was stranded at third base to end the inning.
NJCU is back in action on Tuesday, April 19 at 4 p.m. when it faces St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) at MCU Park in Coney Island, NY—the home field of the Brooklyn Cyclones. Ramapo hosts the College of Mount Saint Vincent on April 20 at 3:30 p.m.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Monday, April 18, 2011 | Jersey City, NJ
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Ramapo College (22-6, 6-4 NJAC)
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New Jersey City University (5-22, 1-9 NJAC)
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