JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | There's a new all-time hits king in New Jersey City University baseball history and his name is Andrew Niech (Avenel, N.J./Colonia). The Gothic Knight senior captain completed a four-year journey to become the first player in the 69-year history of the program to collect 200 career hits, eclipsing the program record of 199 set a year ago, and also registered his 100th career RBI. But NJCU committed four errors that led to seven unearned runs in a 13-7 loss to the College of Staten Island in this year's edition of the 'Bayonne Bridge Series' on April 27 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
 
Fittingly, the record fell on a one-out, two RBI double to right center in the bottom of the fourth. Niech, who already entered the season as NJCU's all-time leader in doubles and became the extra-base hits standard bearer, increased his career totals in those categories to 48 doubles and 60 extra-base hits, while notching his 100th and 101st career RBIs on the double.
 
That hit, in his 146th career game, surpassed the record of 199 hits set last year by former teammate Michael Martucci (Bayonne, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) in 147 games. Niech, who has played catcher or first base much of the season, made the rare start at third base and had a first inning sacrifice fly to finish the game 1-for-4 with three RBIs.
 
Meanwhile, he now has 200 hits, 105 runs and 101 RBIs and becomes the third player in school history with 100 RBIs. It was the second year in a row the hits record fell against Staten Island.
 
A single-season record fell in the loss as well. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Anthony Keri (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) pitched in relief for the 23rd time in 34 total games this year—breaking the single-season mark he had shared with three other pitchers. Keri ranks in the Top 10 nationally in appearances.
 
However, all the individual history could not change the outcome of the game as Staten Island, the CUNYAC leaders, scored six runs in the third inning when NJCU committed two errors to stake itself to a 7-1 lead and after NJCU scored five runs in the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-6, the Dolphins plated four more runs in the fifth—three unearned.
 
After NJCU won last year's meeting 22-10 with 30 hits and 11 doubles, the Gothic Knights outhit CSI in this year's meeting, 16-14. But Staten Island improved to 22-12 with the win and the Knight dropped to 14-20 overall. After starting the year with a 13-6 ledger, the Gothic Knights have now lost 14 of their last 15 games.
 
CSI was led by right fielder Frank Smith who drove in four runs, batting 3-for-5 (one run) while second baseman Nick Delprete scored three times, batting 3-for-6. Designated hitter Frank Muzzio also scored three times with two hits (2-for-5, one RBI).
 
Five Gothic Knights had multiple hits with sophomore first baseman Dan Berardi (Bridgewater, N.J./Middlesex) and junior right fielder Joe Coutinho (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) each going 3-for-5.

Sophomore center fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) scored twice, batting 2-for-5. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, N.J./Saint Joseph-Metuchen) made his second start in the batting order, this time as the designated hitter, and was 2-for-4 with one run and a walk. Junior shortstop Zach Buchholz (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) added two hits (2-for-4, one RBI, one walk) and junior left fielder Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) scored twice.
 
Also for CSI, catcher Frank Sconzo scored twice, batting 2-for-5 and left fielder Glenn Glennerster knocked in two runs, going 2-for-5 with a run. Center fielder Bobby Drake had two hits (2-for-5, one RBI, one run) and shortstop Joe Palmeri walked twice and scored twice.
 
Terrance Mulligan, the second of five pitchers to throw for CSI, won (2-0), allowing one unearned run and three hits in 2.0 innings of relief. Freshman lefty Anthony Zicaro (Linden, N.J./Linden) took the loss for NJCU, giving up just three earned runs in 2.2 innings, falling to 1-3. Keri, the second of four pitchers used, allowed one earned run in 2.1 innings.
 

Key Moments
CSI struck first in the opening inning on a Smith RBI groundout before Rueger tripled for NJCU in the bottom of the frame and scored on a Niech sacrifice fly to left. NJCU left two men on but tied the game at 1-1.
 
The game changed in the third inning. Sconzo and Delprete singled before Palmeri reached on an error at third that allowed the go-ahead run to cross. Up 2-1, Glennerster had a two-run double to left center for a 4-1 lead and after a sac fly, an RBI double by Muzzio made it 6-1. The second error of the inning at third base made it 7-1. Four of the six runs in the inning were unearned.
 
NJCU countered in the fourth, scoring five runs on six hits. Junior catcher CJ Pulcine (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan), Ramirez and junior second baseman Taylor Born (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) singled consecutively with Born driving in a run. Rueger reached on a fielder's choice to push across the third run before Niech stepped to the plate and doubled to right center, driving in two runs to cut the deficit to 7-5. An RBI double by Buchholz trimmed the deficit to one.
 
Staten Island responded in the top of the fifth. Muzzio doubled and scored on a misplay in center. After a single and the third error of the game at third base extended the inning, a walk loaded the bases and Smith delivered a three-run double to left center to increase the lead to 11-6.
 
NJCU got a run back in the sixth on an RBI single by Berardi before Delprete tripled with one out in the seventh and scored on a Palmeri sacrifice fly. Drake added an RBI single in the eighth to make it a 13-7 lead and cap the scoring.
 
QUOTABLE:
 
Head Coach Jerry Smith (fifth season) on the Niech record:
"I could not be happier for Andrew. Truly a special accomplishment and our institution should be proud of the type of person that will now be recognized as the first to reach 200 and our current hit leader. Though the journey to 200 is mostly filled with success, what makes it possible is overcoming the inevitable adversity that comes with baseball. The elite, like Andrew, have an unmatched ability to remain even keeled and mentally tough through it all. It's having the confidence in your own ability and that the next pitch is just another opportunity despite the success or struggles of the past. Fittingly, his 200th hit was a two RBI double as he is our all-time leader in doubles and extra base hits."
 
Andrew Niech on his journey to the milestone:

"My road to 200 hits was a journey filled with so many great people. Although the achievement has my name on it, there were so many people involved in the setting of this record. To have the privilege to play with Mike Martucci, who set the most recent record, is an honor, because he [Mike] was such a talented player. My family, coaching staff, and all the teammates in my last four years at NJCU should all share in my success. Lastly, I would like to thank an old [assistant] coach, Dan Perrine, who was one of the first coaches who helped me hit at the college level and your efforts do not go unnoticed."
 
OF NOTE:

• With his 23rd appearance, Anthony Keri broke the NJCU single-season record of 22 by Steve Hallam in 2009 and equaled by Pedro Garcia in 2013 and by Mark Petrucelli in 2014.
• Now that Andrew Niech is NJCU's all-time leader in hits (200), doubles (48) and extra-base hits (60), these are other potential milestones with six games remaining:
  • With 101 RBIs, Niech needs four to pass Rob Sumner (2005-08) with 104 RBIs for second place. The record is 126 by Hall-of-Famer Rich Levens from 1986-88.
  • With 282 total bases, Niech is in second place all-time and needs 10 more to pass Sumner (291).
  • Niech is sixth in school history with 105 runs scored; he would need 113 to crack the Top 5.
  • With 586 at bats, Niech is in second place and will need 14 more for 600. The record is 624 at bats by Martucci.
  • With 146 games played and 145 starts, Niech is in second place in school history in both categories and will likely finish his career as NJCU's all-time leader in games played and games started, potentially reaching 150 games. Martucci owns both records currently with 147 games and starts.

#NextKnightTime:
NJCU will begin a home-and-home New Jersey Athletic Conference series on Thursday, April 28 at 3:30 p.m. when it hosts Stockton University (7-22, 4-10 NJAC). The teams split in 2015 with each winning at home.