WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University scored four times in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead before Beloit College answered with three runs in the top of the seventh and the Gothic Knights could not get timely hitting in the final three frames with runners on base, falling 7-6 in game one of the 2017 season on March 4 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
The game played at the Chain of Lakes Park Main Stadium—the former spring training home of the Cleveland Indians—was the 2017 season opener for both schools as NJCU (0-1) commenced its 70th season of intercollegiate baseball. The loss spoiled a memorable collegiate debut for freshman left fielder Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro), who batted 4-for-5 with a run scored.
 
Second baseman Jeff Reinecke (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored while freshman designated hitter Lenin Gomez (Edison, N.J./Edison) scored twice, driving in a run.
 
Sophomore lefty Kyle Kafer (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown) took a no decision, striking out six (three walks) while allowing three earned runs and five hits in 6.0 innings.
 
Beloit, members of the Midwest Conference, in Beloit, Wisconsin, was led by senior first baseman Kam Sallee (Huntley, Ill.) who was 2-for-4 with a two-run single in the seventh to put the Bucs back on top. Senior designated hitter Austin Martinez (Marshall, Wisc.) also drove in two runs.
 
Sophomore center fielder Brice Call (Northbrook, Ill.) and junior left fielder Baylee Slevira (Billings, Mont.) each had two hits while sophomore right fielder Jalen Davis (Chicago, Ill.) scored twice.
 

Scoreless through three innings, Beloit scored four times in the top of the fourth. Davis was hit by a pitch and stole second before scoring on a Martinez RBI single. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Slevira singled and an error pushed across a third run before a sacrifice fly plated a second unearned run and made it 4-0.
 
NJCU got a run back in the fifth on back-to-back walks by Gomez and Reinecke before the lead runner scored on a double play. The Knights moved in front on a four-run, four-hit sixth. After a leadoff error, Feehan and junior first baseman Dan Berardi (Bridgewater, N.J./Middlesex) singled and Gomez ripped an infield one-hopper off the Beloit pitcher.  Reinecke followed with an RBI single to right before senior catcher CJ Pulcine (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) had a perfect squeeze bunt to first to plate the tying run. A throwing error at second base that should have ended the inning, allowed Gomez to come home for a 5-4 margin.
 
But Beloit came right back in the seventh. With two on and no outs, NJCU couldn't executive a rundown at third base and Sallee's two-run single to right put the Bucs back on top. A sac fly by Martinez made it 7-5.
 
NJCU had opportunities to tie it in the final three frames. In the seventh, Feehan and senior center fielder Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) singled with one out before Berardi lined into a hard-hit double play to center. In the eighth, Reinecke had a one-out bunt single and scored on an RBI single by junior right fielder Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, N.J./Saint Joseph-Metuchen) to draw within one (7-6). He was caught stealing to end the eighth.
 
Ramirez kept the deficit at one when he made a two-out diving catch in right with a runner on second. In the bottom of the ninth, Feehan singled with two outs before a ground ball ended the game.
 
Senior right-hander Austin Padjen (Crystal Lake, Ill.) threw the first 5.1 innings (two earned runs) before being relieved by junior lefty David Hlawek (Springfield, Ill.) who claimed the win (1-0). He allowed a run and four hits in 2.2 innings, striking out one. Junior Mark Christine (Huntington Beach, Calif.) earned the ninth inning save. Junior lefty Tyler Folger (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South), a transfer, suffered the loss in his Gothic Knight debut, allowing one earned run in 2.0 innings.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU will meet Saint Vincent College, members of the Presidents' Athletic Conference, in game two of the six-game trip on Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex (Field 4) in Auburndale, Fla. Live stats and video are available at www.NJCUGothicKnights.com. It will be Saint Vincent's season opener.