New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score FLEMINGTON, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University entered its May 2 non-conference game with Centenary College 0-20 when tied or trailing (0-17) after eight innings this season and when the Cyclones took a 7-6 cushion to the ninth inning after the sixth lead change or tie of the game, history was not on the side of the Gothic Knights.
 
But freshman left fielder

(Colonia, NJ/Colonia) walked before an error loaded the bases. Buchholz was erased in a force at the plate before JOE COUTINHO scored on the second error of the inning. With the bases loaded, NJCU hit into a double play. Centenary scored three times in the bottom of the fifth. Nick Koffel and Forcellini walked and with two outs Daniele uncorked a three-run homer to left for a 5-4 lead.
 
NJCU tied it in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI single to right center by Giordano as Weinstein, who reached on a fielder's choice that erased a leadoff walk by Coutinho, scored.
 
Centenary answered again in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer to right by Forcellini for a 6-5 edge. NJCU tied it again in the top of the eighth when Martucci tripled and scored on a ground-rule double by sophomore catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia). In a see-saw battle Caparoni drilled a one-out solo homer to right—the Cyclones third round-tripper of the game—and Centenary regained a 7-6 margin in the bottom of the eighth. Delio Coutinho entered in relief and picked off NJCU's record 18^th runner of the season at second base to end the threat.
 
Junior PAT SHELDRICK (Ocean Gate, NJ/Central Regional) pinch hit and led off the ninth with a walk. After a strikeout, he advanced to second on an error by the Centenary pitcher. Weinstein singled through the left side to put runners on the corners. A ground ball to shortstop retired Sheldrick at the plate. But Giordano came through yet again in a clutch situation, singling up the middle to score Weinstein and tie the game. Freshman third baseman/shortstop TAYLOR BORN (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield), who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on a two-out wild pitch as the Knights moved in front, 8-7. Martucci singled and Giordano advanced to third before scoring on an error at second on a ground ball by Niech, giving NJCU a two-run, 9-7 cushion.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Forcellini led off with a single up the middle. After a pop up to Coutinho, Daniele singled and Centenary executed a double steal to move the tying runs into scoring position. Coutinho struck out Kevin Litus swinging—his 69^th K of the season—and rang up Caparoni looking for No. 70 and the final out of the game.
 
NJCU heads to Madison, NJ on Tuesday, May 6 at 3:30 p.m. for a non-conference makeup game with ECAC Tournament-bound FDU-Florham. Should NJCU not make up two other postponed games, it would be the 38^th and final game of the season.

 

Friday, May 2, 2014 | Flemington, NJ
New Jersey City University (12-25)	0	0	3	0	1	0	1	1	3	9	10	1
Centenary College (NJ)(18-16)	0	2	0	0	3	0	1	1	0	7	8	6
WP: DELIO COUTINHO (4-3). LP: Chad Frankenfield (0-2). HR: C-Joe Forcellini (5), Nick Daniele (1), Chris Kiesel (2).