BOX SCORES: GAME 1 | GAME 2
GLASSBORO, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University outhit Rowan University, ranked No. 23 in the American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Division III poll, in game one, only to lose a close contest, and the Profs scored 10 unearned runs in game two as Rowan swept a rare weekday New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader from the Gothic Knights, 5-2 and 13-3, on Monday afternoon at the Rowan Baseball Field.
Rowan improved to 24-8-1 and 11-3 in the league, to maintain its second place position in the NJAC standings. The Knights (6-26, 1-13 NJAC) suffered its 16th loss by four or fewer runs in game one. Rowan scored 10 runs in the third inning of game two after managing only one hit in the first two innings and cruised to victory from there; nine of the runs in the inning were unearned. The games were a makeup of a rainout on April 23.
In defeat, junior second baseman CHRISTOPHER MIRABILE (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) was 5-for-5 in game two. It was NJCU's first individual five-hit effort since March 18, 2008 when Andrew Decibus had five hits.
Junior shortstop ROB GONZALEZ (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) had four hits in the doubleheader. Senior center fielder KEN WITTE (Wantage, NJ/High Point Regional) inched closer to becoming the 34th member of the NJCU 100-hit club and only the ninth to accomplish the feat in two full seasons, with three hits on the day to up his total to 99.
**************GAME 1: ROWAN 15, NEW JERSEY CITY 2**************
New Jersey City outhit Rowan, 12-7 in the open game, but stranded 10 runners on base and was limited by the pitching of the Profs. Sophomore right-hander Steven Melchiorre (Atco, NJ/Hammonton) improved to 5-0 on the season, allowing two runs on the 12 hits (10 singles) with six strikeouts and one walk in eight innings of work. Senior righty closer John O'Hara (Clayton, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) earned his seventh save of the season, allowing a lone walk in the ninth inning. The Gothic Knights left at least one runner on base in every inning except the fifth.
In defeat, senior right fielder JORGE GUTIERREZ (Sewaren, NJ/Hudson Catholic) led four NJCU players with multiple hits, going 3-for-4 with both of NJCU's two runs and a double. Witte batted 2-for-5 with a double while Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with two steals.
Also for the Knights, sophomore first baseman THOMAS LACIK (Edison, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) was 2-for-4 with one RBI and sophomore left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison) was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Rowan senior right fielder Kevin O'Brien (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Memorial) was the lone Prof with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with one run. Senior third baseman Brad Woodend (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) collected two RBIs and senior center fielder Matt Citro (Bloomsbury, NJ/Phillipsburg) scored twice.
NJCU senior righty JEFF KARCZEWSKI (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) tossed a complete-game seven hitter in defeat (0-5), allowing four earned runs with one strikeout and three walks.
Rowan plated one run in the bottom of the first inning on a double by junior shortstop Marc Magliaro (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township), before scoring on a groundout. NJCU tied it in the top of the second when Gutierrez singled with one out before coming home on a Rivera ground ball.
Rowan regained the lead for good with two runs in the third inning. A pair of walks followed by an RBI single by Woodend made it 2-1 before Rowan added another run on an error.
After stranding two runners on base in the fourth inning, NJCU drew within one run in the sixth inning on a two-out single by Lacik to right field, scoring Gutierrez who singled earlier in the frame.
Leading 3-2 the hosts added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Junior first baseman Matt Hill (Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) had an RBI single in the sixth before Woodend came through with a sacrifice fly in the seventh to score Citro who was hit by a pitch twice in the game. Gutierrez had a one-out double in the eighth inning before Melchiorre got out of trouble and handed the ball to O'Hara for the ninth inning. Rivera had a leadoff walk and stole second but the Knights could not generate the necessary two runs against the Rowan closer.
**************GAME 2: ROWAN 13, NEW JERSEY CITY 3**************
Rowan scored 10 runs in the third inning as 14 men batted and outhit the Knights, 15-12, en route to the doubleheader sweep. The Profs fielded 23 players in the nightcap. In a game with 27 combined hits, Rowan stranded 15 runners on base in the game; NJCU left 11.
Rowan had five players with multiple hits. O'Brien was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one run and a triple. Citro finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs and his first homerun of the season. Magliaro added a 2-for-4 showing with one run and one RBI while Woodend walked and scored twice, picking up two steals. Junior designated hitter Nick Turano (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
Junior second baseman Rob Wilgus (Woolwich, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) added two runs, walking twice. Sophomore Nate Floyd (Erial, NJ/Timber Creek Regional) was 2-for-2 as a reserve right fielder.
Mirabile was 5-for-5 with one RBI and Gonzalez added a 2-for-5 effort with one run, upping his three-year hits total to 165. Lacik was 2-for-4 and Witte added one single to leave him one hit shy of 100.
Rowan senior left-hander Mark Porter (Cinnaminson, NJ/Lower Merion (Pa.) tossed the first four innings, striking out six against one walk and five hits but didn't last long enough for the win. Senior Kyle Norman (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) pitched the fifth inning for the win (3-1), allowing one hit with one strikeout. Four more Rowan pitchers tossed one inning each as six arms were used to close out the win.
NJCU rookie righty #T.J. JANHO# (Somerset, NJ/Timothy Christian) suffered the loss (2-3), despite allowing just one earned run in 2.2 innings (six total runs). He allowed five hits with six walks and no strikeouts. Sophomore righty ALVIN CARRASCO (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) tossed 1.1 innings of relief, allowing one earned run (five total) and six hits. Freshman MATT DELBERT (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) threw two innings of relief, allowing one earned run and two hits with one strikeout and two walks. Rookie ZACK MARKLE (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) continued to impress in relief, allowing just two hits in a scoreless 2.0 innings. He struck out two and walked a pair.
It all came down to the third inning. With a man on third and two outs after a pair of fly balls, the inning was allowed to continue on a throwing error that should have ended the threat. Rowan capitalized with eight hits in the inning. An RBI single by Wilgus made it 4-0 before Citro unleashed a two-run homer. An RBI single by Turano made it 7-0 and a two-run triple by O'Brien extended the advantage to 9-0 before sophomore catcher C.J. Szymczak (Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) had an RBI single in his second plate appearance of the inning for the 10th run.
Magliaro had an RBI single in the fourth and Rowan tacked on two more runs in the sixth for a 13-0 cushion, including an RBI single by Floyd for the final marker.
NJCU manufactured two runs in the seventh. Rivera walked and stole third. Gonzalez singled and swiped second base, allowing Rivera to trot home to end the shutout bid. Mirabile slipped an RBI single for the second run. NJCU added one run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman MICHAEL FIORENTINO (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach), scoring Mirabile who singled.
NJCU will play a non-conference game against Baruch College on Tuesday, April 26 at 4 p.m. at MCU Park in Coney Island, NY—home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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GAME 1: Monday, April 25, 2011 | Glassboro, NJ
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New Jersey City University (6-25, 1-12 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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1
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0
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0
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0
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2
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12
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1
|
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Rowan University (23-8-1, 10-3 NJAC)
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1
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0
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2
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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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X
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5
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7
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1
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WP: Steven Melchiorre (5-0) LP: JEFF KARCZEWSKI (0-5). SV: John O'Hara (7).
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GAME 2: Monday, April 25, 2011 | Glassboro, NJ
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New Jersey City University (6-26, 1-13 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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0
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0
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2
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0
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1
|
3
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12
|
2
|
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Rowan University (24-8-1, 11-3 NJAC)
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0
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0
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10
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1
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0
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2
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0
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0
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X
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13
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15
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0
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WP: Kyle Norman (3-1) LP: T.J. JANHO (2-3). HR: Matt Citro (1).
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