New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score GAME PROGRAM/NOTES

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Week and sophomore catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, two runs, a solo homerun and double and NJAC Rookie Player of the Week and freshmen designated hitter DAN BERARDI (Bridgewater, NJ/Middlesex) was 4-for-5 for the second consecutive game as New Jersey City University scored six times in the bottom of the eighth inning and put away Baruch College, 9-2, in a non-conference baseball game at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex on April 1.
 
NJCU (6-8) won its fifth consecutive game and has now outscored its opponents a combined 48-6 since returning from Florida, while its red-hot pitching staff has not allowed more than two runs in any of the five outings. NJCU pounded out 15 hits and has produced 37 hits in its last two games. Baruch fell to 6-10.
 
NJCU led 3-0 after five innings, scoring single runs in the first, third and fourth frames, including a solo shot by Niech in the opening inning and a wild inside-the-park homer by junior third baseman MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) in the third. Baruch cut the deficit to one with single runs in the sixth and seventh before the Gothic Knights exploded for six runs in the eighth on five hits, two walks and a hit by pitch, while sending 11 batters to the plate.

"This was the same game we played against Baruch last year and it was one we lost [6-5, walkoff hit] and couldn't hold on to," recalled third-year head coach Jerry Smith. "It was also similar to what happened to us earlier this year against Wesley [L, 2-3] and Oswego [L, 2-4]. It's good to see our guys creating separation late. Being able to extend the lead has been our problem and it was good to see that in the eighth inning so we can win these type of games."

"We have a little more experience now. There were games in Florida where we had six freshmen on the field at the same time. They're just adapting to the way we play and the college experience. They're become more comfortable each time they're on the field."
 
Freshman left-hander KRIS FELLIN (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) and Berardi, two players who were key last spring for Middlesex High School in its run to the NJSIAA Group 1 state championship, continue to produce as collegians for the Gothic Knights.
 
"It's the expectation now," said Smith about the immediate contributions of rookies Berardi and Fellin. "It no longer shocks me to see what both of them are doing because it's what happens behind the scenes [that contributes to it]. Both are hard workers off the field and it carries over to what they do now to win these games."

Fellin won his second game (2-2), allowing two runs and six hits with three strikeouts and no walks (three hit by pitch) while throwing 83 pitches 

PICKOFFS, NJCU PITCHING (since 2000)
YEAR	PICKOFFS
2014	10
2013	16
2012	10
2011	7
2010	4
2009	12
2008	6
2007	9
2006	10
2005	8
2004	3
2003	5
2002	13
2001	3
2000	3

in 6.1 innings of work.
 
Junior right-hander KEVIN DEMAURO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) faced five batters in 1.2 innings of relief (17 pitches), striking out one, while picking off the lone batter who reached base on an error—the 10^th pickoff by NJCU's pitching staff this year. When freshman JOE STONE (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin) ran into trouble in the ninth inning, leaving with the bases loaded and one out, classmate and righty MARK PETRUCELLI (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Queen of Peace) sealed the win, coaxing a pair of force plays over seven pitches.
 
Berardi, who had batted 9-for-27 (.333) in his first 10 collegiate games, has taken off in his last two outings, batting a combined 8-for-10 with four extra base hits, three runs and three RBIs, to up his average to .459. He doubled twice in the win and finished with one RBI. Niech extended his hitting streak to nine games, notching multiple hits and multiple RBIs for the fourth consecutive game, while slugging his fourth career homer.
 
Five Gothic Knights chalked up multiple hits. Freshman left fielder ERIC GIORDANO (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin) notched his fifth straight multiple-hit game and seventh of the season, finishing 2-for-5 with a double and run scored while junior shortstop NICHOLAS D'ERRICO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) generated his second straight three-hit game, batting 3-for-4 with an RBI and run.
 
Martucci went 2-for-4 with his second career homer and two runs scored. Junior right fielder MIGUEL AVILES (Union City, NJ/Saint Mary's (Jersey City)) was 1-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and walk.
 
For Baruch, first baseman Zachary Uher and second baseman Matthew Ballone were each 2-for-4, with Ballone homering in the seventh inning and Uher adding a double.
 
Freshman righty Ryan Smith had entered the game 3-1 overall but took the loss (3-2), allowing four runs (three earned) and 11 hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 7.1 innings. Eric Peralta gave up five runs and four hits (two walks) in 0.2 innings of relief.
 
NJCU got on the board in the bottom of the first when Niech ripped a two-out, 0-1 pitch over the left field fence. NJCU, which had at least one hit in every inning but the seventh, gained a 2-0 lead in the third. Aviles singled, was sacrificed to second and move to third when Berardi singled through the left side. When the ball was misplayed on the damp left field grass, Aviles alertly came home.
 
A wild play gave NJCU a 3-0 lead in the fourth. With one out, Martucci hit a long fly ball to left field. The Baruch left fielder couldn't make a running catch and his momentum carried him over the wall. Meanwhile, Martucci never stopped running and scored standing on an inside-the-park homer before the Bearcats could recover.
 
Baruch didn't have a man reach third until the sixth inning when it claimed its first run. Right fielder Angel Tejeda doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single to center. Ballone led off the seventh with a first-pitch homer to left to make it a 3-2 game.
 
Ahead by one entering the eighth, Giordano doubled, Martucci singled and stole second and junior center fielder MATTHEW WAGNER (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) walked to load the bags. A squeeze bunt single by D'Errico caught Baruch off guard, driving in Giordano for a 4-2 lead and Aviles walked to force in the fifth run. A sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman TAYLOR BORN (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) allowed Wagner to follow with a sixth run before a two-run double to right center by Niech and an RBI double by Berardi capped the six-inning.
 
With the bases loaded in the ninth, Petrucelli coerced a force play at the plate to prevent Baruch from scoring again.
 
NJCU begins its amended 2014 NJAC schedule on Thursday, April 3 in the opener of a two-day home-and-home series against Rutgers University-Camden at 3:30 p.m. in Camden, NJ.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 | Jersey City, NJ
Baruch College (6-10)	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	8	1
New Jersey City University (6-8)	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	6	X	9	15	2
WP: KRIS FELLIN (2-2). LP: Ryan Smith (3-2). HR: B-Matthew Ballone (1); N-ANDREW NIECH (1), MICHAEL MARTUCCI (1, IP)