New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior right-hander WENDELL RODRIGUEZ (Ponce, Puerto Rico/County Prep) allowed just two earned runs in seven innings and tied the New Jersey City University baseball program's career wins record after the bullpen worked into and out of trouble in the top of the ninth, stranding the tying runs in scoring position, as NJCU held off SUNY College at Old Westbury, 8-6, in non-conference action on March 21 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
 
Old Westbury scored three runs on two hits and two errors in the top of the ninth and sophomore righty KEVIN DEMAURO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) loaded the bases with no outs, but coerced three consecutive ground outs to himself on the mound to end the game, including several off-balance defensive stops to leave the tying runs on second and third base.
 
NJCU (7-4) won its fourth consecutive game to move three games above .500 for the first time since March 10, 2009. After having its last three games cancelled or postponed by inclement weather in Florida and New Jersey, the Gothic Knights were playing for the first time in 10 days and making their 2013 home opener. Old Westbury (3-7) stranded 12 runners in the game and lost its fifth in a row.
 
On a cold day with temperatures in the mid-30s and wind chills much less, Rodriguez improved to 2-1 while making his fifth start in 11 games this season for NJCU. In seven innings, he allowed two earned runs (three total) and six hits with three strikeouts while walking six over 130 pitches. Rodriguez, who picked off two runners in the game, improved to 12-13 in a career where he often has been matched up against the best teams in the NJAC and region, and becomes the fifth pitcher in school history to win a record 12 games.
 
Senior left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison) was 3-for-5 with two runs and inched closer to becoming the 35^th member of NJCU's 100-hit club by collecting the 95^th, 96^th and 97^th hits of his career.
 
The middle of the lineup—sophomore third baseman MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep), rookie catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) and sophomore first baseman ALEX WEINSTEIN (Colonia, NJ/JFK-Iselin)—each produced two RBIs apiece. Martucci and Weinstein were each 2-for-4 while Niech was 1-for-4 with a double and one run.
 
Sophomore right fielder MATTHEW WAGNER (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Senior center fielder MICHAEL PATTERSON (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) scored twice and stole three bases—his eighth, ninth and 10^th of the season, in a 1-for-4 effort. Patterson reached base for the 13^th consecutive game dating to last season.
 
Senior left-hander PEDRO GARCIA (North Bergen, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) was vying for a two-inning save and threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning, including two strikeouts, but allowed two runs (one earned) against a walk over 22 pitches before DeMauro relieved him in the ninth. DeMauro also was charged with one earned run against two hits and a walk over 23 pitches, but got   he stop.
 
Old Westbury used six pitchers in the game. Freshman righty Tyler Kapela (Mineola, NY) made his first career start and took the loss (0-1), allowing four runs (one earned) and six hits with a strikeout in three innings. Junior second baseman Jeremy Delgado (Mastic Beach, NY) finished 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
 
NJCU jumped out to a four-run lead after three innings when it scored four times in the bottom of the third inning on four hits—aided by a Panther error. Patterson singled with one out, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a RBI grounder to third by senior second baseman PETE SENYSZYN (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) that resulted in an error. Rivera singled before both runners advanced on a hit-and-run that avoided a potential double play. NJCU, given a fourth out after the error, capitalized as Niech doubled over the outstretched glove of the left fielder to drive in two runs for a 3-0 lead and came around for a 4-0 lead after Weinstein slipped an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
 
OW scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the fourth, Pagan led off with a triple and scored on an RBI groundout by Licul. The Panthers left two runners on base in the second, fourth and fifth innings but cut NJCU's lead in half when a two-out throwing error allowed a second run to come home.
 
The Knights extended the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Senyszyn, Rivera and Martucci had back-to-back-to-back singles to open the frame. Weinstein knocked in one run with a ground ball and Wagner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the sixth run before NJCU left the bases full. OW made it a 6-3 game when Delgado doubled home a run in the top of the sixth.
 
NJCU left two men on in the seventh but failed to score. In the eighth, NJCU collected a pair of unearned runs and they proved to be key insurance tallies. Patterson reached on a one-out error and stole second before Senyszyn walked. The duo stole second and third. After Rivera battled for 11 pitches before recording the second out, Martucci ripped a 2-1 pitch into center field for two RBIs and an 8-3 advantage.
 
In the ninth, Delgado walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on an error after a pickoff attempt before he scored on NJCU's second error of the inning. After DeMauro entered in relief, Pagan and Licul had consecutive singles; the latter a sharp bouncer off the glove of DeMauro, to plate the fifth run. Licul stole second and after a walk, the Panthers loaded the bases with no one out. Senior right fielder Peter Romeo (Lindenhurst, NY) made it 8-6 and pushed two runners into scoring position with a groundout to the mound.
 
With one out, reserve catcher and sophomore Robert Crocitto (Staten Island, NY) hit a sharp low liner back at the mound. DeMauro made a great defensive play to glove the ball, stare the runner back to third, and throw to first for the second out. With two outs, junior reserve shortstop Eddie Hernandez (Freeport, NY) tried to slip a 2-2 pitch between the mound and first base but DeMauro fielded his position well, making a lunging scoop play coming off the mound before throwing to first to end the game.
 
On Saturday, March 23, NJCU will head to Chestertown, MD for a non-conference game at 1 p.m. against Washington College. It will be the first meeting between the schools in any varsity sport.