New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

HARRISONBURG, VA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | On a cold day in Southwestern Virginia, with temperatures in the upper 20s and winds gusting across the diamond, Eastern Mennonite University scored 16 runs in the first four innings, including seven in the third and six in the fourth, and defeated the  New Jersey City University baseball team, 16-2, at the EMU Baseball Field.
 
The Royals (3-4) collected 16 hits to snap a four-game losing streak against tough competition. NJCU ended its earliest trip to start a baseball season in the 66-year history of the program with a 1-3 mark.
 
EMU could only produce two hits in the final four innings off of three NJCU relievers, but the damage had been done. NJCU had six hits in the game.
 
In defeat, senior center fielder MICHAEL PATTERSON (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) had his fourth consecutive multi-hit effort to start the season—and 12^th in two seasons—going 2-for-4. He is batting .563 (9-16) four games into the season.
 
Freshman catcher JAMES GARDNER (Hoboken, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) accounted for NJCU's only two runs in the sixth inning when in his first career at bat chalked up a two-run double to center. Freshman catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) finished the trip batting .389 (7-for-18) with a 2-for-4, one-run showing. NJCU used 20 of its 25 active players during the game.
 
Junior right-hander Adam Posey (Poquoson, VA) struck out nine and walked none in seven innings, allowing just two runs and six hits.  He also served as the leadoff hitter in the game and later shifted to designated hitter and produced a 3-for-3 effort with three runs, two walks and one RBI. Sophomore lefty Ryan Henschel (New Market, VA) completed the task with two perfect innings of relief, fanning two.
 
Four players had multiple hits for the Royals and three different batters netted three RBIs. EMU did the damage with only three extra base hits in the game and no homeruns.
 
Junior second baseman Ryan McAlister (Bridgewater, VA) was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs and two walks and senior center fielder B.J. Mortimer (Mechanicsville, VA) was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs and three walks.
 
Also for EMU, junior left fielder Zach Bowles (Staunton, VA) was 3-for-5 with two runs and sophomore shortstop Brandon Carroll (Fredericksburg, VA) added three RBIs. Sophomore third baseman Justin Rodriguez (Miramar, FL) scored three times. EMU used 14 players in the game.
 
Junior righty RYAN MITCHELL (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) took the loss (0-1), allowing 10 runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and four walks in 2.2 innings. Sophomore righty NICK DEMARCO (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) made his first appearance in an NJCU uniform. In 1.1 innings, he was charged with six runs and four hits, with one K and one walk. NJCU walked nine batters in the game.
 
Senior lefty PEDRO GARCIA (North Bergen, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) pitched two innings and allowed one hit and three walks with one strikeout. Junior lefty ZACK MARKLE (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) and freshman righty JOMAR CASIANO (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) were effective in relief stints. Markle allowed one hit with a strikeout and walk in one inning. Casiano, in his first career appearance, struck out one and did not allow a hit.
 
EMU scored three times in the bottom of the first. Posey led off with a single, and then stole third and home. Rodriguez tripled to bring in McAlister who walked; Rodriguez later scored on a single by Mortimer.
 
In the third inning, 13 Royals came to the plate as EMU scored seven runs after two outs had been recorded. With two men on, the first run scored on a wild pitch before the next seven batters reached via hits or walks. Posey had an RBI double, McAlister added a two-run single and a bases loaded walk by Mortimer made it 10-0. EMU had six hits in the frame.
 
In the fourth inning, the Royals sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six times on four hits. The biggest hit was a three-run bases-clearing triple by Carroll. EMU left the bases loaded in the fifth and two men on in the sixth and seventh innings.
 
NJCU will be off for the next week before returning to action on Sunday, February 24 with a non-conference doubleheader against Centenary College at TD Bank Stadium in Bridgewater, NJ. First pitch in game one is slated for 11:30 a.m.