New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score CAMDEN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University junior left-handed ace DELIO COUTINHO (Colonia, NJ/Colonia), the New Jersey Athletic Conference's strikeout leader was incredible, striking out all four batters he faced in a starting role, including fanning the side swinging in the first inning. But NJCU, faced with the unenviable task of playing six NJAC games in a four-day span due to recent rainouts, was forced to employ the pitcher-by-committee scenario and Coutinho, on his side throwing day, left the game after striking out the first four batters. The Gothic Knights used seven pitchers to get through the contest and the Scarlet Raptors broke open a close game with three runs in the fifth and seven more in the sixth, en route to a 15-5 win over NJCU on April 3 at Campbell's Field.
 
NJCU, playing its 2014 NJAC opener following a doubleheader postponement on March 29, had its longest winning streak since 2010 snapped at five straight, falling to 6-9 (0-1 NJAC), despite outhitting the Raptors (11-5-1, 2-1 NJAC) by a 14-12 margin. Camden won its second straight to take over first place in the conference early in the season.
 
Coutinho upped his incredible strikeout pace—now 43K's in 27.2 innings (.208 opposing average)—to 13.99 per nine innings. He now averages 1.67 more strikeouts per game than any other player in the NJAC and ranks among the Top 10 in Division III.
 
Meanwhile, NJCU lost despite more outstanding play from reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Week and sophomore catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) and NJAC Rookie Player of the Week and freshmen first baseman DAN BERARDI (Bridgewater, NJ/Middlesex). Niech extended his hitting streak to 10 games, notching multiple hits for the fifth consecutive game. Berardi had at least three hits in a game for the third consecutive outing, upping his season average to .476 with a 3-for-5, one run performance while stealing his first career base.
 
Junior third baseman MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) batted 2-for-5 with two runs before heading to the mound as one of seven pitchers and freshman left fielder ERIC GIORDANO (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin) notched his sixth straight multiple-hit game, finishing 2-for-5 before also pitching. Junior PAT SHELDRICK (Ocean Gate, NJ/Central Regional) had a two-RBI pinch-hit single.
 
For Camden, senior righty Tommy Potts improved to 3-0, throwing 8.0 innings while allowing two runs (one earned) and nine hits with a walk and strikeout before Jim Goodwin gave up three runs in the ninth inning.
 
First baseman Connor Hall was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run while second baseman Joe Sigismondi scored three times, batting 1-for-3 with an RBI. Matt Giampetro was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI while catcher Joe Theckston scored twice.
 
Freshman righty MARK PETRUCELLI (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Queen of Peace) was charged with the loss (0-1) after allowing a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth inning. He allowed two runs and four hits with a walk. All six relievers who followed Coutinho—Petrucelli, junior designated hitter ALEX WEINSTEIN (Colonia, NJ/JFK-Iselin), Martucci, junior righty KEVIN DEMAURO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), junior center fielder MATTHEW WAGNER (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) and Giordano—allowed at least one run.
 
NJCU took an initial 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI single by Niech before RUC took the lead for good with its third hit of the fourth inning—a two-run single through the right side by Hall.
 
Leading 2-1, the Raptors scored three times in the fifth on two hits and a pair of walks. A triple by Brett Tenuto made it 3-1 before a passed ball and subsequent wild pitch pushed across a run and dangerous right fielder Adrian Gonzalez doubled to make it 5-1. NJCU got a run back in the top of the sixth when Berardi and Giordano singled and teamed for a double steal of second and third; Berardi raced home on an errant throw to make it a three-run game.
 
But 11 men came to the plate for the Raptors in the bottom of the sixth as Camden scored seven times on only two hits. Three runs were aided by a pair of NJCU errors. Hall also had an RBI single in the inning with other runs developing on a bases loaded hit by pitch, a passed ball and a sac fly.
 
Up 12-2, the Raptors added two runs in the seventh on a groundout and wild pitch before Giampetro had an RBI double in the eighth for a 15-2 advantage. NJCU scored three time on five hits in the ninth—a two-run single by Sheldrick on the Knights' fourth straight single before sophomore JAMES GARDNER (Hoboken, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) had an RBI pinch-hit single.
 
Weather-permitting, NJCU and RUC will play the backend of a two-day, home-and-home NJAC series on Friday, April 4 at 3:30 p.m. at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City.