JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior first baseman Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) homered twice, including a three-run shot to break a 1-1 tie in a four-run third inning as the New Jersey City University baseball team (6-4) finally opened its 2018 home schedule with a 7-3 non-conference victory over Baruch College (3-13-1) on March 27 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
 
Berardi was the standout in an 11-hit attack, later hitting a solo homer in the fifth inning. Both homers were shots to left field—the 11th and 12th round trippers of his career—on a day he batted 3-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. He vaulted into fourth place in school history with his first two home runs of the season.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Anthony Carfora (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) earned a tough save for the Gothic Knights—the first of his career. Leading 6-3, he entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh before coaxing a ground ball to third to strand the bags full. Baruch went in order in the eighth and ninth innings. In 2.1 innings, Carfora retired all seven batters he faced, striking out three batters while throwing just 32 pitches.  
 
Also for NJCU, junior second baseman Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) drove in two runs (1-for-4) and scored once and sophomore right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) was 2-for-4 with two steals and a run scored.
 
Junior righty Nate Facey (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) was the winner for NJCU (1-1), striking out six batters (three walks) in 5.0 innings of work. He allowed one run and three hits over 89 pitches as the first of five Gothic Knights to throw.
 
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Matteo Flamio (Tuckahoe, N.Y.) took the loss (0-2). He struck out four, walked two, and allowed four runs and seven hits in 4.0 innings.
 
After Baruch struck first in the top of the second on freshman shortstop Davic Capellan (Bronx, N.Y.)'s first career homer, it remained a 1-0 game in the third thanks to a brilliant play by Pena, running and diving to catch a line drive down the right field line.
 
NJCU broke the game open in the third. After a walk and an error, an RBI single by sophomore left fielder Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) tied the game. Berardi stepped to the plate and crushed an 0-1 pitch well over the left field fence for a 4-1 cushion. Berardi's bomb in the fifth on the first pitch he saw made it 5-1.
 
Baruch got a run back in the fifth when NJCU committed three errors in the inning. The Knights reclaimed that run in the sixth when Pena led off with a single, stole second, moved to third after back-to-back walks and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pulcine to make it 6-2. Baruch cut it to 6-3 when the third walk of the seventh inning forced in a run before Carfora entered and slammed the

door. Pulcine slipped an RBI single through the left side in the eighth to add an insurance run.
 
NOTABLES:

• Head Coach Jerry Smith won his 99th career game.
• Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) moved into fourth place in school history in home runs, passing Brian Veneziano (1997-00), former teammate Andrew Niech (2013-16) with 11 and Anthony Caivano (2002-05) and Bill McClintock (1981-82) with 10.
• Berardi moved into 25th place in NJCU history with 70 RBIs.
• Berardi moved into 21st place in NJCU history with 123 hits. He passed Alex Mena (2007-10, 120 hits), Ray Nazzaro (1982-85), B.J. Fearon (1994-96, 121 hits) and Anthony Squeglia (1986-89, 122 hits) on the career list.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• Head Coach Jerry Smith seeks to become the third coach in program history to win 100 career games when the Gothic Knights host the College of Staten Island on Wednesday, March 28 at 3:30 p.m. at the Gerrity Complex.

 
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