New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score WINTER HAVEN, FL (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Waynesburg University scored twice in the seventh to gain a 4-3 lead then put the game away with five runs in the eighth as the Yellow Jackets downed New Jersey City University, 9-4, in game one of two for NJCU on March 14 on its 2014 baseball spring trip.
 
Waynesburg University (3-8) snapped a five-game skid while sending NJCU (1-7) to its fifth loss in a row. The Gothic Knights committed five errors, leading to five unearned runs. The Knights have committed 14 errors in their last four games and 20 in eight contests to start the season.
 
In defeat offensively for NJCU, junior right fielder MATTHEW WAGNER (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) , who was mired in an 0-for-8 slump in his first four games, broke out with two RBIs, one run and a double while batting 2-for-4. Sophomore catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) was 2-for-4 with a walk.
 
The Jackets received a 3-for-3 effort with one run and one RBI from cleanup hitting first baseman Jonathon Kletzli while center fielder Eric Crum, the leadoff hitter, batted 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a triple. Third baseman Luke Carter scored twice with a double and Justin Davey knocked in two runs with a pinch-hit double.
 
Freshman Parker Beatty earned his first collegiate win (1-1), throwing 6.0 innings while allowing three runs (two earned) and four hits with two strikeouts and four walks over 101 pitches. Freshman Colton Lippencott earned a three-inning, 50-pitch save, allowing one run and three hits with two K's and one walk.
 
Junior right-hander KEVIN DEMAURO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) suffered the loss (0-2), allowing four earned runs (nine total) and six hits with three strikeouts and four walks in a 114-pitch, 7.1 inning outing. Senior left-hander ZACK MARKLE (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) allowed just two hits while facing seven batters (17 pitches) in the final 1.2 innings.
 
Scoreless through two innings, WU scored once in the top of the third when Cameron Bernhardt walked with one out following an error and crossed the plate on the second error of the inning.
 
NJCU got the runs back in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice for a 2-1 margin. Wagner walked and junior center fielder MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep), the reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Week, slipped a double through the left side before Martucci stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by rookie left fielder ERIC GIORDANO (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin).
 
Waynesburg tied it in the fourth. After an error by the pitcher, Matt Bensinger was hit by a pitch and scored on a double to right by Kletzli.
 
NJCU reclaimed a 3-2 edge in the bottom of the sixth. After two walks and an error loaded the bases with one out, Wagner executed a squeeze bunt that forced in  freshman designated hitter DAN BERARDI (Bridgewater, NJ/Middlesex) and advanced runners to second and third. Junior shortstop NICHOLAS D'ERRICO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) also tried a bunt attempt but NJCU couldn't execute the play again and stranded a pair of men in scoring position, leading by one run.
 
Two runs in the top of the seventh on a two-out triple down the right field line by Crum put WU back in front, 4-3. Waynesburg followed with five runs in the eighth—three unearned—as NJCU committed two more errors in the frame as nine men came to the plate.
 
In the eighth, Bensinger led off with a double, Kletzli was hit by a pitch and an error loaded the based before a sac fly made it 4-3. After an intentional walk, a throwing error by DeMauro allowed Kletzli to score and Davey's two-run pinch-hit double to left extended the lead to 8-3. Crum capped the scoring with an RBI single for a 9-3 edge.
 
Wagner had a two-out RBI double to right center in the bottom of the eighth to get one run back before NJCU left two men on after three hits in the inning. NJCU also left two on in the ninth.