EAGLE LAKE, Fla. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior first baseman Alex Weinstein (Colonia, NJ/JFK-Iselin) became the 38th member of the New Jersey City University 100-hit club with an eighth-inning double and the Gothic Knights got a game-tying double in the top of the ninth by junior designated hitter Andrew Niech (Avenel, NJ/Colonia). But St. John Fisher College uncorked a one-out triple in the bottom of the ninth and scampered home on a wild pitch in a 6-5 nail-biter on March 7.
 
The Cardinals (3-4) are a season removed from going 31-11 and capturing the 2014 ECAC Metro championship, but needed to rally twice to overcome NJCU (0-2). The Knights were thwarted by five errors.
 
The Knights scored three times in the top of the seventh to grab a 4-3 lead before the Cardinals responded with two in the bottom of the inning and headed to the ninth up 5-4.
 
Weinstein, in his 111th career game, became the third player to reach the milestone in head coach Jerry Smith's four-year tenure with the program as he ripped a one-out double over the shortstop that rolled all the way to the wall.
 
Niech was 3-for-5 with a run, RBI and his 25th career double while batting in the No. 2 spot in the lineup for just the second time in his career. Freshman left fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) scored twice.
 
Sophomore right fielder Eric Giordano (Metuchen, NJ/JFK-Iselin) walked twice to extend his on base streak to 16 straight games but did not have a hit, snapping a 15-game streak.
 
Shortstop Cody Wiktorski led the Cardinals, going 2-for-5 with a double, triple, two runs and one RBI. He won the game for SJC in the ninth when he belted a one-out triple, then scored on a wild pitch after senior righty Michael Martucci (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) entered in relief.
 

First baseman Scott Eisenmenger and second baseman Frank Carnevale were each 2-for-4 batting in the six-seven spots in the lineup. Outfielder Cal Woolhiser drove in two runs.
 
Freshman lefty Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen) made his first collegiate start and left after 5.0 innings with a no-decision. He allowed one earned run and five hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Junior righty Jhon Garcia (Leonia, NJ/Liceo Carlos Soublette; Caracas, Venezuela) allowed two unearned runs and two hits in 2.0 innings. Freshman righty Anthony Keri (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) took the loss (0-1) in 1.1 innings, allowing two hits, including the decisive Wiktorski triple.
 
Dominick Pisciotto also left with a no-decision for SJF, allowing one earned run and three hits with a walk and strikeout. Junior righty Erin Moskal claimed the win (1-0), retiring the final out in the top of the ninth.
 
NJCU got on the board in the top of the first when Niech singled and Martucci doubled, Niech scored on a Giordano RBI groundout. The Cardinals capitalized on two errors, scoring twice in the bottom of the third before the Knights got out of the inning with a double play. A groundout by Woolhiser in the fifth made it 3-1.
 
A three-run seventh put NJCU in front. After a one-out walk, freshman second baseman Javi Estevez (Union City, NJ/Union City) doubled home a run and scored the tying run when Rueger reached on an error, then used his speed to come all the way around on the misplay. An error and passed ball in the bottom of the inning put SJC in position to tie the game on a one-out double by Wiktorski before he scored on an RBI single by Mike Roman.
 
NJCU tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the ninth when Rueger was hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second and scored on a double by Niech before NJCU left the bases loaded with a chance to take the lead.
 
QUOTES:
Senior first baseman Alex Weinstein
 
On what joining the 100-hit club means to him: "It means a lot. All my hard work I put in during the offseason was for moments like this. Hopefully the next memorable accomplishment is in the NJAC playoffs. My parents [Adam and Maria Weinstein] loved being able to see it live here in Florida. I couldn't have done this without their support."
 
OF NOTE:

• Russ Matt College Spring Break Invitational. Game 2 of 2 of a split doubleheader.
• Alex Weinstein is now 38th in school history with 100 hits.
• Michael Martucci had his 144th career hit in game No. 112. He is in sole possession of ninth place in school history. Next on the list are Charlie Auletto (1993-95) with 148 hits and Jonathan Thomas (2001-04) with 149 hits.
• Andrew Niech increased his career hits total to 94 in 77 games. His 25th double moved him within four of the career program record:
  • 1.         29-Nick Cucinello (1990-93)
  • 2t.        28-Eric Martinez (1996-98)
  • 2t.        28-Phil Zaffarano (1994-97)
  • 4t.        27-Rick Pizzuti (1997-99)
  • 4t.        27-Paul Grasso (1993-93)
  • 4t.        27-Tom Burke (2008-10)
  • 4t.        27-Dave Long (1987-90)
  • 8t.        26-Ruben Borges (2005-07)
  • 8t.        26-B.J. Fearon (1994-96)
  • 8t.        26-Mark Hoyer (2008-09)
  • 11t.       25-Sean Costello (1984-87)
  • 11t.       25-Francisco Ramirez (2010-11)
  • 11t.       25-Andrew Niech (2013-14)