SALISBURY, Md. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) forced extra innings with a bases-clearing, two-out, three-run double in the top of the ninth inning for New Jersey City University (5-3) but it was longtime national powerhouse Salisbury University (8-4) that had the ultimate luck in the St. Patrick's Day non-conference matchup. The Gulls faced an 0-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning before sophomore catcher Matt Padeway (Fairfax, Va.) waited out four consecutive balls to force in the winning run as Salisbury used a walkoff walk to survive NJCU, 7-6.
 
In the first-ever meeting between the schools, each team had nine hits but the Gulls played error-free ball and NJCU committed four errors in the game, leading to a pair of unearned runs. It was NJCU's second extra-inning game of the season and the longest game since losing to Kean in 12 innings (1-0) on April 12, 2014.
 
Salisbury led 2-0 after six innings of a tightly-contested ball game before NJCU tied it with two runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by sophomore center fielder/catcher Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) and a sac fly by junior catcher Jan Castellano (Prospect Park, NJ/Paterson Eastside).
 
The Gulls reclaimed a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run pinch-hit double to left center by senior Simon Palenchar (Salisbury, Md.) and an RBI single up the middle by junior designated hitter Jake Decker (Charlottesville, Va.). Each team added single runs in the eighth to make it a 6-3 game heading to the ninth.
 
LoGatto's three RBIs led NJCU on a day where he was busy defensively—five putouts and three assists to recover from a pair of throwing errors.
 
Senior first baseman Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) had his 120th career hit and 30th double, scoring twice in a 2-for-5 effort and Pena and junior second baseman Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) each had two hits, one RBI and a double.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen) struck out six (three walks) in 6.1 innings of work, allowing two earned runs and five hits. Junior right-handed pitcher Anthony Carfora (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) allowed just one run and two hits in a quality 2.0 innings of relief. Junior righty Sean Gibney (Rutherford, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) was on the mound in relief of junior lefty Anthony Zicaro (Linden, NJ/Linden), who ultimately was the hard-luck loser in a game that nearly extended to at least 12 innings.
 
Padeway was on base six times and the ultimate thorn in the side of NJCU. He was 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs, two hit by pitches and the decisive walk.
 
Palenchar was the lone Gull with multiple hits. Leadoff hitting sophomore center fielder Justin Meekins (Berlin, Md.) walked and scored twice. Senior shortstop Scott Ardoin (Germantown, Md.) was 2-for-4 with two walks.
 
Senior righty Wes Whitlock (Middletown, Del.) started for the Gulls and went 6.0 innings, striking out six against four walks. He allowed two runs and two hits. Senior righty Connor Reeves (Bel Air, Md.) was the sixth pitcher used by Salisbury and won his third game (3-1) despite allowing three runs and four hits in 3.0 innings of relief. He struck out five, walking two while facing 15 batters.
 

Salisbury went ahead 1-0 in the second inning when Meekins stole third and scored on a throwing error on the play. Padeway led off the fifth with a double and later came around on to score an unearned run when NJCU committed two errors in the frame. With Salisbury later leading 5-2, Pulcine for NJCU and junior third baseman Ron Villone (Rivervale, N.J.) each had RBI singles to send it to the ninth a 6-3.
 
After Salisbury retired the first two Gothic Knights in the top of the ninth, NJCU was down to its final out. But Berardi and sophomore third baseman Lenin Gomez (Edison, NJ/Edison) singled then orchestrated a double steal followed by a walk by Pulcine. LoGatto lobbed a fly ball into the left field corner, out of the reach of the diving Salisbury outfielder, to tie the game.
 
NJCU intentionally walked a batter in the ninth inning with one out and the move paid off with a double play to send the game to extras. In the 10th, another intentional walk with two outs paid off again when Zicaro struck out the next batter to strand the bases loaded and force an 11th inning.
 
In the top of the 11th, Ramirez, who remained in the game as a designated hitter, led off with a single and Gomez walked with one out and both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but were stranded there. In the bottom of the inning, three walks—the second intentionally—loaded the bases and Padeway waited out the fourth and final walk to win it.   
 
QUOTABLE KNIGHTS:
 
Head Coach Jerry Smith on NJCU scheduling a tough opponent like Salisbury:
 
"It's been a six-plus year process of putting it together. This has been a learning experience for all of us, including myself. Playing tough out-of-conference games like this prepares us for the New Jersey Athletic Conference. A couple years back we started 13-5 and then didn't perform well in the NJAC. So I think having a weekend of Moravian, Salisbury and Stevens—all on the road—will really prepare us for what's coming in April."  
 
Head Coach Jerry Smith on NJCU playing toe-to-toe on the road against a Salisbury team that has been to 18 consecutive NCAA Tournaments:
 
"I'm definitely proud of them and we always take time to appreciate what it is—that's a big thing in our program. But we are not content. We didn't drive four hours to be close. We feel we have the talent and the players to compete with anyone. We made some miscues today—some errors that led to runs, some base-running mistakes and lost the leadoff battle that teams like Salisbury will take advantage of. We need to learn how to finish these games. When you play a great program like this, mistakes like that will be magnified. We are where we are not and at the level where we can compete with anyone because of the hard work these guys put in and the guys before them put in."
 
NOTABLES:
 

• NJCU is 1-1 in extra-inning games this year; it beat Albion, 15-14, in 10 innings on March 6.
• Salisbury has made 23 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 18 consecutive seasons since 2000.
• The Gulls received 40 points in the latest D3baseball.com Top 25 poll, equivalent to a No. 30 national listing, and 41 points in the American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Baseball Poll.
• Senior first baseman Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) moved into a tie for 24th place in school history with 120 hits in 93 games. He equaled Ray Nazzaro (1982-85) and Alex Mena (2007-10).
• Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) became just the third player in school history to reach 30 career doubles.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• NJCU plays another challenging game tomorrow (Sunday, March 18) at 3 p.m. when it visits Stevens Institute of Technology at Dobbelaar Baseball Field at the Debaun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J.

 
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