New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 UNION, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University's baseball program proved on April 12 it could play with anybody in the country, but the heartbreak of a pair of one-run losses doesn't sting any less. NJCU received a pair of brilliant pitching efforts from junior right-handers

(South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) led off with a single, freshman left/right fielder ERIC GIORDANO (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin) doubled and with two outs, Weinstein singled to left center. NJCU didn't have another notable scoring chance in the game.
 
Kean had runners on the corners in the fourth inning before a 6-4-3 double play ended the threat. Kean didn't have another major threat until it won it in the eighth. Smarslok and sophomore center fielder Matt Meleo singled and Smarslok scored on the single to left center by Taormina. A pinch runner stole second and with one out, O'Connor drove a 1-2 pinch-hit double to left center to clear the bases. NJCU flew out three times in the top of the ninth.
  

NJCU BASEBALL IN EXTRA INNINGS (since 2000) (7-12-1)
INNINGS	RESULT	OPPONENT	DATE	SITE
12	L, 0-1	at #6/7 Kean	4/12/2014	Union, NJ
12	W, 10-7	at Stevens	4/23/2001	Hoboken, NJ
11	L, 2-3	at Staten Island	4/7/2004	Staten Island, NY
11	L, 4-6	Rutgers-Camden	4/24/2000	Jersey City, NJ
11	L, 3-4	Rutgers-Camden	4/7/2001	Cinnaminson, NJ
10	L, 6-7	at Albright	4/15/2008	Reading, PA
10	L, 11-12	at Montclair State	4/10/2006	Little Falls, NJ
10	W, 3-2	Rutgers-Newark	5/6/2000	Jersey City, NJ
10	L, 7-8	Rutgers-Newark	4/17/2004	Jersey City, NJ
10	L, 11-12	at Stevens	4/25/2000	Hoboken, NJ
10	L, 3-4	at Stevens	3/25/2005	Hoboken, NJ
10	L, 3-4	at Richard Stockton	4/28/2012	Galloway, NJ
10	L, 4-5	at Richard Stockton	3/29/2008	Galloway, NJ
10	W, 2-0	at Centenary	2/24/2013	Flemington, NJ
9	L, 4-5	at Staten Island 1	3/15/2008	Staten Island, NY
9	W, 8-1	at Lincoln (Pa.) 1	3/19/2005	Lincoln University, PA
8	W, 8-6	at Staten Island 1	3/25/2006	Staten Island, NY
8	W, 6-5	vs. Central 1	3/11/2007	Fort Myers, FL
8	W. 12-7	at Farmingdale State 1	3/12/2006	Farmingdale, NY
8	T, 8-8	vs. Milwaukee School 1	3/6/2009	Auburndale, FL
1 = scheduled 7-inning game

He made way in a no-decision for third baseman/center fielder MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) in relief who ultimately took the loss (0-1) despite 3.1 fine innings of relief, striking out two against two walks, one run and two hits over 49 pitches.
 
Kean junior righty Matt Mantione truly earned the victory, going the distance—a full 12.0 innings and 137 pitches—to improve to 3-2. He struck out 13, walked none and scattered five hits in the shutout. It was Kean's third shutout thrown this year.
 
Freshman second baseman NICK RUSCINGNO (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) was NJCU's lone batter with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4. NJCU had just one hit after the sixth inning—a leadoff double by Weinstein in the 10^th.
 
Kean was limited to just two hits through four innings and four after seven before producing more chances later in the game. The Cougars had two hits in the eighth but the one real scoring chance came in the 12^th when the hosts won the game.
 
Sophomore shortstop Ryan Reitmeyer, the lone Cougar with multiple hits (2-for-5) stepped to the plate with one out after O'Connor walked for the second time in the game following an eight-pitch battle with Martucci. Reitmeyer deposited a 1-0 pitch to left center for a double that knocked in O'Connor for the winner.
 
NJCU will be back on the diamond on Tuesday, April 15 at 3:30 p.m. against FDU-Florham in non-conference action in Madison, NJ.