STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior first baseman Dan Berardi (Bridgewater, NJ/Middlesex) (Bridgewater, N.J./Middlesex) hit his second home run of the season in the top of the 10th inning to break an 8-8 deadlock and lead the New Jersey City University baseball team to a 10-8 non-conference victory over the College of Staten Island in game one of a doubleheader on April 10. NJCU, playing its third doubleheader in as many days, ran out of steam in game two, losing 12-3.
 
Senior shortstop/third baseman Zach Buchholz (Colonia, NJ/John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) (Colonia, N.J./JFK Memorial-Iselin) had three hits in game one, becoming the 42nd member of NJCU's 100-hit club and the second in three days to reach the milestone, joining fellow senior, Joe Coutinho (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) (Colonia, N.J./Colonia), on the list.
 
NJCU is 7-11 overall with the doubleheader split. Staten Island upped its mark to 11-7-1, hitting three home runs in game two. Both games were scheduled for seven innings before the opener required three extra frames.
 
Game 1: New Jersey City 10, Staten Island 8
After the eighth and ninth innings were scoreless, senior left/center fielder Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) led off with a single and with two outs, Berardi unloaded on the first pitch he saw, drilling a two-run homer over the left field fence for a 10-8 win.
 
Sophomore shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) (Helmetta, N.J./Spotswood), a hard-luck loser in his first relief appearance of the season on April 9, was sensational in relief today, throwing 2.2 no-hit, shutout innings to win for the first time (1-1). His 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th sealed it. He struck out one and walked just one in his gem.
 
NJCU scored three in the first before Staten Island answered with four in the bottom of the inning. NJCU countered with three in the second and another in the third to claim a 7-4 lead. The Gothic Knights also led 8-6 before the Dolphins scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to force bonus baseball. A two-out RBI single by designated hitter Frank Muzzio tied it.
 
NJCU had a 13-12 margin in hits led by Berardi. After a slow start to the season, the clean-up hitter continued coming on strong as of late, batting 4-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs, including the game-winning blast.
 
Buchholz came into the game with 98 career hits and went 3-for-5 with a run. The milestone came on his third at bat of the game in the fifth when he led off with a single to right center. Ruscingno and junior center fielder Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen) (Old Bridge, N.J./Saint Joseph-Metuchen) each scored twice.
 
Glenn Glennerster, who homered in each game, batted 3-for-5 with two runs. Bobby Drake (2-for-3), Frank Muzzio (2-for-6) and Frank Sconzo (2 runs, 2 walks) also contributed.
 
Sophomore righty Sean Gibney (Rutherford, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) (Rutherford, N.J./Saint Mary-Rutherford), the fifth of six pitchers, was strong in 2.1 innings, allowing one run and one hit with two strikeouts (two walks). Four-year right-handed reliever Joe Stone (Metuchen, NJ/John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) (Piscataway, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) went the longest, throwing 3.0 innings. He allowed just one run and two hits with two strikeouts (four walks). Jason Failla (0-1), the fourth of five Staten Island pitchers, suffered the loss, allowing two runs and three hits in 3.2 innings. He struck out three (one walk).
 
How It Happened:
NJCU scored three in the top of the first. Berardi had an RBI double as part of the effort and later came home on a wild pitch. CSI got four runs back in the bottom of the inning, using six hits to move in front. An RBI single by Sean Becker tied it before Drake singled home the fourth run.
 
NJCU responded in the second, scoring three times while capitalizing on a pair of CSI errors. LoGatto led off with a double before coming in with the tying run on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Coutinho put NJCU back on top and a single by freshman designated hitter/left fielder Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro) extended the margin to 6-4. Buchholz doubled to lead off the third and was forced in on a Ramirez sacrifice fly. Gellerster led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot, cutting it to 7-5, and drew within a run in the fifth when Drake doubled with one out and scored on a subsequent single.
 
NJCU got an insurance run in the sixth before CSI answered in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch. Staten Island trailed 8-7 heading to their final at bat and after Sconzo led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second, Muzzio had a two-out single to left to tie the game.
 
With the game in extra innings, NJCU turned double plays in the eighth and ninth innings to thwart the Dolphins, leading to Berardi's game-winning homer in the 10th and LoGatto's 1-2-3 bottom half inning.

 
Game 2: Staten Island 12, New Jersey City 3
Staten Island hit three home runs and scored all of its runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, including five in the third to seize a 7-0 lead and separate itself from NJCU.
 
Ruscingno was the lone Gothic Knight with multiple hits, batting 2-for-3. Berardi was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman righty Ricky Lorenzo (Morristown, NJ/Morristown) (Morristown, N.J./Morristown), the first of four pitchers to throw, suffered his first loss (0-1).
 
Christian Capellan (2-2) tossed 6.0 innings for CSI, striking out six (one walk) while limiting NJCU to five hits. Dan Newman retired NJCU in order in the seventh. The Dolphins outhit NJCU, 13-5.
 
Nick Meola had a homer and a double, finishing with three RBIs and two runs in a 2-for-3 effort. Drake added a three-run homer Glennerster homered again, going 2-for-3 with two runs. Josh Mercado finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Anthony Lozada and Frank Sconzo each had two hits.
 
CSI led 2-0 after the first inning when Glennerster had a solo homer. Drake's three-run shot was the big blow in the third and Meola put a three-run homer over the left field fence in the three-run fifth to give the hosts the final 12-3 lead.
 
OF NOTE:

• Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) (138 hits) moved into sole possession of 16th place in school history, passing Eric Martinez (135 hits, 1996-98) and Andrew Rivera (135 hits, 2010-13).
• Joe Coutinho (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) now has 104 career hits in 112 games. In game one he extended his on-base streak to 20 games dating to last season and his 2017 active 13-game hitting streak before both were snapped in game two.
• Zach Buchholz (Colonia, NJ/John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) now has 101 career hits in 116 games and became the 42nd member of the NJCU 100 hit club.
• Currently, seven players have joined the 100-hit club in Jerry Smith's six years as head coach, including three of the top six on the list and the No. 1 and No. 2 all-time hitters.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU plays for the fourth day in a row when it hosts FDU-Florham (8-9) in a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 11 (3:30 p.m.) at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.