LAJAS, PUERTO RICO (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior second baseman Jeff Reinecke (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) hit a game-tying two-out homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning before New Jersey City University won it after a pair of two-out errors in the bottom of the ninth as the Gothic Knight baseball team edged Messiah College, 6-5, in the opening game of the Clemente Cup 2016 Puerto Rico Spring Break trip.
 
NJCU improved to 2-0 and extended its winning streak to six in a row dating to the end of last season. NJCU had 11 hits in the game. Messiah fell to 5-7.

Tied 5-5 with two outs in the bottom off the ninth, sophomore center fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) singled to right on a 2-2 pitch, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Senior first baseman Andrew Niech (Avenel, NJ/Colonia)'s sky high sacrifice fly ball to right was dropped by the Messiah fielder and Rueger scored to win it.

Trailing 4-1 after the top of the third and 5-2 after three and a half innings, freshman shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) had a two-run double to draw within a run, leading up to the game-tying homer.
 
LoGatto was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, Rueger went 2-for-5 with two runs and sophomore first baseman Dan Berardi (Bridgewater, NJ/Middlesex) finished 2-for-4 with a run and RBI in his first game since the 2014 season.
 
Third baseman Colin Fry scored twice for the Falcons, batting 2-for-3 and left fielder Ben Sollenberger was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. First baseman Joseph Saufley hit a two-run homer in the third inning.
 
Freshman Anthony Carfora (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), the fourth NJCU pitcher used, picked up the win in relief, striking out and walking one in his only inning of work.