WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | It was the game that had it all. A huge deficit that became a brief lead, only to require another rally. Twelve runs in one inning. And another member of the 100-hit club. New Jersey City University trailed 10-4, led 13-10 and fell behind again 16-13 before unleashing a 12-run outburst in its final at bat in the eighth inning as the Gothic Knights bats came alive in a 25-16 come-from-behind win over Principia College on March 10 at Chain of Lakes Park.
 
Junior catcher Andrew Niech (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) came into the game needing just two hits to become the 39th player in school history and the second this week to join the 100-hit club. He leapfrogged that milestone in just his 80th career game, batting 5-for-7 with four RBIs, three runs and his 27th career double in a ball game that lasted four hours and 25 minutes. NJCU scored 19 runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
 
The 25 runs scored were the most by NJCU since bagging 26 runs at John Jay in a 26-21 contest on March 29, 2011.
 
NJCU (2-3) won its second straight game, cracking 21 hits. The Knights have produced 36 runs and 36 hits in the last two games. Principia, a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and based in Elsah, Illinois, dropped to 0-2.
 
Nearly every player in the lineup did some damage with the bat. While Niech had the milestone moment with a two-run single to center in the bottom of the second before pushing his hit total to 103, sophomore Zach Buchholz (Colonia, NJ/JFK-Iselin) had his best collegiate game to date, reaching base five times in a 3-for-4 performance which included four RBIs, three runs and two walks.
 
Sophomore right fielder Eric Giordano (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin) hit safely for the 18th time in 19 games and extended his on-base streak to 18 contests, going 2-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs. Senior first baseman Alex Weinstein (Colonia, NJ/JFK-Iselin), who reached the 100-hit mark on Saturday, pushed his career total to 108, going 3-for-5 with three runs, two walks, two steals and one RBI.
 

Also for the Knights, freshman left fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) scored four times and was 3-for-6 with two RBIs. Freshman second baseman Javi Estevez (Union City, NJ/Union City) subbed into the game in the seventh inning and was a big part of the rally, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Sophomore second/third baseman Taylor Born (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) continued to find ways to get on base. He knocked in three runs, scored twice, walked twice and was hit by two pitches in a 1-for-2 day. Born, who was hit by a record-setting 15 pitches as a rookie, now has been hit 18 times in 40 games. Sophomore Joe Coutinho (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) walked and scored twice in a late pinch hit role.
 
On the mound, freshman righty Anthony Keri (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) was the fifth pitcher used and despite trouble in the eighth, bounced back to strike out two of his five batters in the ninth to close his first collegiate win (1-1). He walked one and allowed six runs and six hits.
 
Senior righty Tom Colaiacovo, Jr. (Helmetta, NJ/Southern Regional), the second pitcher used, retired both batters he faced and sophomore righty Joe Juri (Emerson, NJ/Emerson) threw the sixth inning, striking out two (one walk). Sophomore right-hander Joe Stone (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin) started (1.1 innings) and junior righty Jhon Garcia (Leonia, NJ/Liceo Carlos Soublette; Caracas, Venezuela) went 3.0 innings, allowing one earned run with three K's and a walk (four hits).
 
The Panthers leadoff hitter, left fielder Parker Davidson, was 4-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs with right fielder/pitcher Hunter Mehring finishing 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs. Catcher Bryce Murray contributed two RBIs in a 3-for-5 day and center fielder Eddie Bargmann drove in three runs in a 2-for-5 effort. First baseman Dallen Russell scored three times while designated hitter/right fielder Gavin Thomas finished with a pair of doubles.
 
The Panthers used six pitchers. The second pitcher, Aleq McMullin was the most effective, allowing just two hits in 3.0 innings. After three more relievers allowed Principia to get to the eighth with a 16-13 lead, Mehring moved from outfield to the mound and it didn't go well. He gave up 12 runs (all earned) and 10 hits with two walks and two hit batters as 16 Gothic Knights came to the plate.
 
QUOTES:
Junior catcher/designated hitter Andrew Niech
 
On what joining the 100-hit club means to him on a day where he had five hits: "In regards to the milestone, I am honored to be a part of and play with three other teammates in the 100-hit club. It was also exciting to accomplish the milestone in Florida and to have my father and uncle there at the game. Aside from that I think that the milestone is a reflection of both the handwork of my teammates and me." As well, having a good day at the plate is an expectation of mine everyday but to have five hits in a game is something special and the fact that we took a win along with that makes the day even better."
 

Head Coach Jerry Smith (fourth season):

On Andrew Niech's accomplishment: "Andrew is a pleasure to coach. He wants to learn and is always seeking to improve. He is a natural leader but by example and with his own leadership which is much needed in our young program. We converse a lot on ways he can improve that leadership and he always remains open-minded. His ability to be coachable coupled with his hard work he puts in during the off season in the weight room results in his on-field success. It doesn't just happen.100 hits in 80 games is a by-product of the time he invests and him being a never-ending learner."

OF NOTE:

• Russ Matt College Spring Break Invitational.
• Alex Weinstein is now tied for 31st in school history with 108 hits in 114 games. He equaled Tom Burke (2008-10) on the all-time list and passed Paul Grasso (1991-93, 107 hits), Phil Lospalluto (2002-03, 106 hits) and Mark Hoyer (2008-09, 105 hits).
• Michael Martucci is now tied for seventh in school history with 149 career hits in 115 games, matching Jonathan Thomas (2001-04).
• Andrew Niech increased his career hits total to 103 in 80 games. He passed Jim Roselli (1986-89) and Alfredo Monagas (1979-82) on the all-time list; both players had 101 hits.
• NJCU has had multiple players reach the 100-hit milestone for the first time since 2010 [Tom Burke, Michael Fiorentino, Rob Gonzalez, Alex Mena].
• Taylor Born moved into sole possession of second place in career hit by pitch in just his 40th career game. He broke a tie for second place and with 18 hit by pitch and is now three shy of the painful career record of 21 by Paul Krajewski from 1992-94. The top five to get hit:

1.         21         Paul Krajewski               1992-94
2.         18         Taylor Born                  2014-15
3.         16         Justin Pelka                  1996-99
4.         15         Nicholas D'Errico          2013-14
            15         Michael Patterson          2012-13
            15         Javan Camacho            2005-06
            15         Mike Jannucci               1991-92

• Andrew Niech belted his 27th career double to move within two of the career program record:

1.         29         Nick Cucinello               1990-93
2t.        28         Eric Martinez                 1996-98
            28         Phil Zaffarano               1994-97
4t.        27         Andrew Niech               2013-14
            27         Rick Pizzuti                   1997-99
.           27         Paul Grasso                  1993-93
            27         Tom Burke                    2008-10
            27         Dave Long                    1987-90