BOX SCORE
EWING, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University outhit The College of New Jersey, 10-9, but the Lions broke open a close game with a three-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning and defeated NJCU, 9-2, in the opening game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference home-and-home series on Thursday afternoon at George Ackerman Park.
TCNJ improved to 18-8 with the win (5-5 NJAC) while the Gothic Knights fell to 6-23 (1-10 NJAC). NJCU scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to pull within two runs (4-2).
In defeat, junior catcher FRANCISCO RAMIREZ (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) was 2-for-4 with one RBI and senior first baseman MICHAEL FIORENTINO (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach) added an RBI, batting 2-for-3. Senior right fielder JORGE GUTIERREZ (Sewaren, NJ/Hudson Catholic) provided two hits. Senior center fielder KEN WITTE (Wantage, NJ/High Point Regional) collected his 93rd career hit in his second full season.
For TCNJ, senior center fielder Anthony Palmiotto (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Township) was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning—his first of the year and his entire four-year career. He scored twice in the win. Sophomore designated hitter Andrew Priece (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) was 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI and junior catcher Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) knocked in two RBIs, batting 2-for-5.
Senior 6-foot-7 right-hander Sean Stewart (Howell, NJ/Freehold Township) earned the complete-game victory (3-1), allowing two runs and 10 hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
NJCU junior righty NELSON MALDONADO (Newark, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) suffered
the loss (1-5), allowing six earned runs and eight hits in seven innings. He walked five and struck out two. Sophomore righty ALVIN CARRASCO (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) pitched the eighth inning, allowing just one hit and one unearned run after NJCU committed its third error of the game.
TCNJ opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Sophomore second baseman Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro North) was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double from senior shortstop Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) before a fielder's choice by junior first baseman Jimmy Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberley Academy) knocked in one run. Galeotafiore doubled to center to drive in Ruzich before Maldonado orchestrated a 1-6-3 double play to retire the side. TCNJ added a third run in the second inning as Priece led off with a single, advanced to second on a fielder's choice and scored on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.
The Lions added a run in the third. Sophomore third baseman Nick Cifelli (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on a single by Priece.
NJCU trimmed the deficit to 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Witte walked, advanced to third on a single by Gutierrez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Fiorentino.
The Knights cut the TCNJ lead in half in the top of the fifth. Sophomore left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison) singled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when Ramirez deposited a double into left field, making it 4-2. Maldonado worked out of trouble in the bottom of the fifth, striking out Priece looking with the bases loaded.
The Lions scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out outfield error to move ahead 5-2. But the real damage came in the seventh inning. With one out, Cifelli singled, Priece walked and Palmiotto hit his three-run homerun to right field, giving the Lions an 8-2 advantage.
TCNJ added another unearned run in the eighth when Zegarski reached on an error and scored on a double to right center by Galeotafiore for the ninth run. NJCU had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the ninth but couldn't rally.
NJCU and TCNJ will conclude the two-day home-and-home series on Friday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m. at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Thursday, April 21, 2011 | Ewing, NJ
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New Jersey City University (6-23, 1-10 NJAC)
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0
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0
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0
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1
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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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2
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10
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3
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The College of New Jersey (18-8, 5-5 NJAC)
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2
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1
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1
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0
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0
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1
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3
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1
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X
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9
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9
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0
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