GALLOWAY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  The New Jersey City University baseball was seeking a series sweep of Stockton University and led 4-0 going into the seventh inning stretch. But the Ospreys scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh and capitalized on four bases-loaded walks by NJCU pitching in the inning as Stockton held on for a 6-5 win in game two of a home-and-home New Jersey Athletic Conference series on April 29.
 
The loss drops NJCU to 15-21 (1-15 NJAC) and eliminated the Gothic Knights from post-season contention. Stockton upped its mark to 8-23 (5-11 NJAC). It was the second straight one-run game in the series after NJCU won 3-2 in Jersey City a day earlier.
 
NJCU outhit Stockton, 10-7, led by sophomore first baseman Dan Berardi (Bridgewater, N.J./Middlesex) who finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
Two games after becoming NJCU's all-time hits leader, senior designated hitter/first baseman Andrew Niech (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) became NJCU's all-time leader in games played with 148 while starting for a record-tying 147th time—both marks, like the hit record, formerly held by teammate Michael Martucci (2012-15). Niech also posted his 49th career double, 61st extra-base hit and 202nd overall hit, to extend all three career records.
 
Freshman left-handed pitcher Kyle Kafer (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown) took a no decision. In 6.0 innings he allowed just two runs and four hits, striking out three (two walks). Sophomore righty Anthony Keri (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) suffered his first loss in defeat (2-1) in his record 24th appearance of the season.
 
NJCU pitching walked seven in the game and three relievers combined to walk five batters in two innings.
 
Stockton designated hitter Matt Mangarella was 3-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Kevin Buell claimed the win (2-2), allowing four runs (three earned) and eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 7.0 innings. Ryan Adamski collected the save (2), allowing a run and two hits versus two strikeouts (one walk) in 2.0 innings.

 
Key Moments
The Knights scored in three of the first four innings, including two in the opening frame. Niech had a one-out double and junior shortstop Zach Buchholz (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) singled him home. Buchholz later stole second and scored on the fourth hit of the inning—an RBI single to right center by Berardi.
 
After Kafer stranded the bases loaded in Stockton's bottom of the second, NJCU added a third run in the third when sophomore center fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) led off with a single, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior left fielder Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck). The NJCU lead reached 4-0 in the fourth as Berardi doubled with one out and scored on an error.
 
But Stockton needed just one inning to change the outcome of the game and it came in the seventh when the hosts scored six times on just four hits. Singles by Mangarella and second baseman Vaughn Champion sandwiched around a walk loaded the bases with no outs and first baseman Nick LaPorta drove in the first run.
 
Two Gothic Knight relievers followed to walk the next three batters in a row to force across the second, third and fourth runs, allowing the Ospreys to tie the game without swinging the bat. Even at 4-4, center fielder Dan Sweeney singled to right to plate pinch hitter Stephen Struble, the first of three to walk in a row, with the go-ahead run. Mangarella, in his second plate appearance of the inning, drew another bases-loaded free pass to give Stockton a 6-4 lead and what proved to be the winning run before a double play ended the inning after 11 men came to the plate in the inning.
 
NJCU drew a run closer in the eighth as Ruscingno led off with a single and scored on a two-out single to center by Berardi, who then stole second but was stranded there. Adamski retired NJCU in order in the ninth to save it.
 
OF NOTE:

• Andrew Niech with 148 games played and 147 starts claimed his fourth program career record. He now shares the games started record (147) with Michael Martucci.
• With 285 total bases, Niech is in second place all-time and needs seven more to pass Rob Sumner (2005-08) with 291.
• With 108 career hits, Nick Ruscingno moved into a tie for 33rd place in school history, passing Paul Grasso (1991-93). He is even with Tom Burke who had 108 hits from 2008-10.
• Anthony Keri's 24th pitching appearance is now two more than the previous single-season record.

 
#NextKnightTime:
NJCU will conclude NJAC play tomorrow, Saturday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m. when it hosts William Paterson University in a conference doubleheader at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. It will be Senior Day; prior to game one NJCU will honor its lone senior, its record-breaking captain, Andrew Niech.