New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

EWING, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | If Thursday's meeting between New Jersey City University and The College of New Jersey in Jersey City was a test of offensive will, Friday's rematch was quite the opposite. Arms ruled the day as NJCU was limited to five hits and despite outstanding performances from four Gothic Knight pitchers, TCNJ edged New Jersey City, 3-1, on Friday at George Ackermann Park.
 
In was the second consecutive game decided by two runs between NJCU (12-20, 1-11 NJAC) and TCNJ (20-13, 8-4 NJAC). The Lions, winners 10-8 in the opening game of the two-day, home-and-home series, defeated the Knights for the 30^th consecutive meeting since 1997.
 
TCNJ junior right-hander Robert Schneider (Township of Washington, NJ/Westwood) retired 16 consecutive batters from the end of the second to the seventh innings, retiring NJCU in order in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh frames and had a two-hitter intact entering the eighth before a leadoff single ended the streak. He improved to 4-0 on the season by scattering three singles versus one run in eight innings, with two strikeouts and one walk.
 
Senior right-handed closer Michael Ham (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) allowed two hits in the top of the ninth but struck out the final batter of the game to register a save against NJCU in back-to-back games. He now leads the NJAC with eight saves.
 
Sophomore left-hander ZACK MARKLE (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) made his third career start and threw well, allowing just one run and three hits in 2.2 innings (one walk). Sophomore righty RYAN MITCHELL (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) tossed the next 2.1 innings, giving up one run on two hits with one strikeout (four walks) but took his first loss (2-1).
 
Freshman righty KEVIN DEMAURO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) threw 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one run and four hits with a strikeout. Freshman ALEX WEINSTEIN (Colonia, NJ/JFK-Iselin), who started the game at first base, concluded his day on the mound, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out a batter in an inning and a third.
 
Junior centerfielder Nick Cifelli (Ewing, NJ/Ewing), who did not play in Thursday's meeting, was one of four Lions with multiple hits, going 2-for-4. Junior second baseman Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-North) was 2-for-5 with one RBI and one steal and senior first baseman James Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Offensively for NJCU, freshman shortstop MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) drove in the only run, batting 1-for-4. Junior second baseman PETE SENYSZYN (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) scored the only run and had a hit. NJCU's three other singles game from Weinstein, junior left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison) and sophomore designated hitter ROB ROMAN (Hoboken, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades).
 
For the second straight game, NJCU's pitchers did a solid job of containing senior catcher Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy). He entered the game with a .513 career average (20-39), 19 RBIs and 13 runs in seven previous lifetime games against NJCU but was limited to one hit.
 
NJCU's only run came in its first at bat. In the first inning, Senyszyn walked with two outs, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Martucci.
 
In the bottom of the first, Ruzich doubled with two outs and advanced to third on a wild pitch but Galeotafiore lined out to left to end the inning. In the bottom of the second, a 4-6-3 double play erased a TCNJ leadoff walk and ended the inning.
 
TCNJ eventually tied the game in the bottom of the third. Sophomore left fielder Joseph Dispoto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) singled with one out and was driven in by Kelly's double to left. Kelly swiped third with one out. Senior designated hitter Ed Zakrzewski (Three Bridges, NJ/Hunterdon Central), who was 3-for-3 with four RBIs, three runs scored and two hits on Thursday, was 0-for-4 in the game on Friday and  lined out to left field. Mitchell came in and ended the threat, coaxed Ruzich to ground out to first.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, TCNJ put together another threat. Galeotafiore walked to lead off before Murphy hit into the second double play of the game by the Lions. With two outs Cifelli singled, and two walks loaded the bases before Mitchell got Dispoto to ground out to second on a 2-2 pitch to end the inning.
 
Yet another TCNJ rally was thwarted in the fifth. Kelly led off with an infield single and advance to third after a pair of groundouts to second base. Mitchell found a way to strike out Galeotafiore on seven pitches to end the inning.
 
After several near misses, the Lions finally plated the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. Junior right fielder Michael Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech) led off with a walk and DeMauro entered for Mitchell in relief. DeMauro got Cifelli and Murray to ground out to short. But Murphy, who advanced to third on the two outs, scored when junior shortstop Rob Vafiadou (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) singled to right for a 2-1 lead. It was only the sixth hit of the game for TCNJ at that point.
 
The Lions would pad the lead in the bottom of the seventh. With two out and none on, Ruzich, Galeotafiore and Murphy strung together three consecutive singles and the latter hit by Murphy on a 1-2 pitch, scored Ruzich for a 3-1 edge. Galeotafiore was caught stealing at third to end the frame.
 
In the eighth, Rivera led off with a single and stole second with one out but was stranded. Weinstein, who ended the seventh inning on the mound, pitched the full eighth inning. After a leadoff double by Cifelli and a two-out walk, he ended the inning with fly ball.
 
Schneider handed the ball to Ham in the ninth inning. After a ground out, Senyszyn had a one-out bunt single. Martucci lined out before Weinstein singled on a 1-2 pitch to keep the game alive but Ham came back and struck out rookie right fielder MATTHEW WAGNER (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) to seal the win.
 
NJCU will host Rowan University in an NJAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 21 beginning at 11:30 am at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City.