JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  Freshman right-hander Ray Liguori (Beachwood, N.J./Toms River South) tossed a complete-game gem, allowing no earned runs, and the New Jersey City University baseball took advantage of two breaks and a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Gothic Knights rallied for a 3-2 walkoff win over Stockton University in the opening game of a home-and-home New Jersey Athletic Conference series on April 28 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
 
NJCU finally cashes in with an NJAC victory, snapping a five-game losing streak to improve to 15-20 (1-14 NJAC). Stockton (7-23, 4-11 NJAC) loses its fifth straight. With rain threatening to interrupt the game, the clubs needed a cozy 1:57 to play nine innings.
 
Liguori, who was lights out from the third inning on, got NJCU to the bottom of the ninth even at 2-2. Junior catcher CJ Pulcine (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) led off with a chopper back at the mound that Stockton senior righty Mike Bergin (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) tried to barehand. But it redirected away from both middle infielders. Pulcine stole second base before being lifted for a pinch runner in speedy freshman Sean Erhardt (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield).
 
Junior right fielder Joe Coutinho (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) came up with one out and lined a ball to the second base side of the pitcher that caromed off of Bergin to second base. As Coutinho raced down the line, Stockton senior second baseman Vaughn Champion (Galloway, N.J./Absegami), himself reaching twice during the game on NJCU errors, did not have a chance to throw out Coutinho. But instead of holding onto the ball he rushed the throw to the infield side of first base and that throwing error—the only one of the game for the Ospreys—allowed Erhardt to zip around third with the winning run to set off an NJCU celebration.
 
Liguori, after struggling with command early in the game, was awesome in the middle and late innings, retiring Stockton in order in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings and 13 in a row. Liguori tossed his second complete game of his rookie campaign to even his record at 3-3 over 132 pitches. In the nine innings, he allowed two unearned runs, scattering six singles and just two after the fourth inning. He struck out six against four walks.
 
NJCU had nine hits with junior left fielder Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) the offensive star of the game, batting 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and run scored. He was instrumental in NJCU's first two runs of the game.
 
Pulcine and junior third baseman Taylor Born (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) each had two hits. Senior designated hitter Andrew Niech (Avenel, N.J./Colonia), the new all-time hits king in NJCU history, added his 50th hit of the season and 201st of his career while tying the all-time games played mark.
 
Bergin (1-8) pitched well enough to win for Stockton. In 8.1 innings, he allowed three runs (two earned) and nine hits (eight singles) over 114 pitches. He struck out six and walked one. Senior right fielder Matt Poinsett (Ocean Gate, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Ospreys.
 
Key Moments

In the first inning, Liguori walked two batters but all three outs were via K, including the final two batters looking.
 
NJCU got on the board in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore center fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) led off with a single through the left side, advanced on a balk and to third when Niech had a bloop single to center for his 50th of the season. A sacrifice fly to center by Ruscingno knocked in Rueger for a 1-0 lead.
 
In the second, a leadoff error at second and the third walk of the game put two runners on with no one out. An RBI single to center by sophomore left fielder Zach Gustites (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) knocked in the unearned run and tied the game, 1-1. Liguori had his fourth strikeout in two innings before committing a throwing error for the second miscue of the inning, and an RBI single by Poinsett to left center made it 2-1. Stockton would not score again.
 
After the third error of the game extended the third inning, Stockton had runners on the corners before a check swing soft ground ball to first got Liguori out of trouble.
 
Still trailing by one, Ruscingno led off the sixth inning with a long triple over the head of the left fielder and a ground ball to the hole at short by junior shortstop Zach Buchholz (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) plated Ruscingno with the tying run.
 
The final three innings took less than 30 minutes to play. Stockton junior catcher Stephen Struble (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) finally gave the guests a baserunner when he led off the ninth with a ground ball through the right side. Freshman Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, N.J./Spotswood), who came on to play second base in reserve made a great diving stop but couldn't get the runner at first. Struble was then thrown out stealing on a perfect strike to second by Pulcine.
 
After a one-out bloop single to center, Liguori's first walk since the second inning put two runners on. But even as his pitch count climbed over 130, Liguori continued to battle. He coaxed a ground ball to second for a perfectly executed 4-6-3 double play between LoGatto and Buchholz to end the inning, setting up the bottom of the ninth.
 
QUOTABLE:
 
Ray Liguori on his performance:
"I got off to a rough start but definitely settled down and began to throw strikes. Pitching to contact was key along with my defense behind me. I always have to give a special shoutout to my catcher [CJ Pulcine] and most importantly my pitching coach, Coach [Nick] Cesare."
 
Ray Liguori on how he was able to keep throwing so hard and so well with a pitch count into the 130s in such a stressful situation:
"I knew my whole team was counting on me to not let them get any more runs on the board. So that's what was pushing me to keep going and fighting."
 
OF NOTE:

• A day after Andrew Niech broke former teammate Michael Martucci's career hits record, Niech tied Martucci for first place on the all-time games played list with 147. Niech is one start (146) behind that Martucci record with five regular season games remaining.
• With 283 total bases, Niech is in second place all-time and needs nine more to pass Rob Sumner (2005-08) with 291.
• With 107 career hits, Nick Ruscingno moved into a share of 34th place in school history with Paul Grasso (1991-93). He also passed Phil Lospalluto (2002-03, 106 hits), Mark Hoyer (2008-09, 105 hits) and Ken Witte (2009-11, 105 hits) on the all-time list.

 
#NextKnightTime:
NJCU and Stockton play game two of the home-and-home series on Friday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m. in Galloway, N.J. It will be NJCU's final road NJAC game of the season.