New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

HOBOKEN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University had the tying run on third base with one out in the top of the ninth inning before Stevens Institute of Technology made a game-ending diving catch in center field as the Ducks outlasted NJCU, 2-1, in the 2013 season finale for the Gothic Knights on May 1 at Dobbelaar Field.
 
In a game where hits were at a premium—three for NJCU and only two for Stevens—each school's starter was brilliant, but only one could win. Stevens concludes the regular season at 23-17. NJCU's 66^th season of baseball ends with a 17-22 ledger, losing the final three games.
 
In the top of the ninth, senior center fielder MICHAEL PATTERSON (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) led off with a single to left center, stole second base and advanced to third on a one-out ground out. Junior right-hander Dan Allen (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) entered in relief of sophomore lefty Peirce Marston (Silver Spring, MD) and struck out senior left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison) after a seven-pitch battle before sophomore third baseman MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) walked on a 3-2 count to put runners on the corners.
 
With the tying run still 90 feet away, rookie catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) ripped a 2-1 line drive to center. Stevens' freshman center fielder Jonathan Toro (Sanford, FL) raced in and made a diving, face-first catch with his glove extended to end the game. Had Toro not made the catch, Niech would have easily given NJCU the lead with a triple, and it perhaps would have resulted in an inside-the-park homer.
 
Allen earned his sixth save for the Ducks. Marston earned the win (3-3), allowing one run and three hits over 103 pitches in 8.1 innings, striking out five and walking two.
 
NJCU senior righty WENDELL RODRIGUEZ (Ponce, Puerto Rico/County Prep), the school's all-time leader in victories, was seeking his 16^th of his career but did not get the run support, despite throwing a complete-game two-hitter. In 8.0 innings, he allowed one earned run, striking out seven versus three walks over 121 pitches, falling to 5-6 on the year. It was his fourth complete game of the season and 12^th of his career—tied for third in school history. It was his 11th start of the year, matching the second most in school history.
 
Martucci had two of NJCU's three hits, batting 2-for-3. Patterson was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two steals—his 26^th and 27^th of the season—the third most in school history.
 
Stevens' freshman second baseman Jayson Yano (Foothill Ranch, CA) was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Freshman left fielder Tyler Bush (Bristol, CT) had the other hit. Toro and senior first baseman Michael Donovan (Frisco, TX) each scored.
 
In the pitcher's duel, NJCU scored its only run in the top of the first as Patterson led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice, stole third and scored on an RBI groundout by Rivera.
 
Stevens scored single runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Toro was hit by a pitch with one out, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored an unearned run on a two-out single up the middle by Yano. In the fourth, Donovan led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman Tyler Courter (Glenwood, NJ/Vernon Township). In the eighth, Bush led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch with no outs but was stranded on base.