DOVER, Del. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University scored three runs in three different innings and received a sensational relief appearance from junior left-handed pitcher Kyle McCabe (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) as the Gothic Knights (10-5) won for the 10th time this season with an 11-5 non-conference win over Wesley College (6-12) in the rain on April 3 at Bob Reed Field.
 
In the first meeting between the programs in Delaware, NJCU led 4-0 after two innings, scored three more in the fourth and put the game away with a three-run sixth inning. Neither school scored in the final three innings.
 
McCabe, in his first year for NJCU, picked up his first save and he earned it, tossing 4.0 shutout innings of relief, scattering just two hits with a strikeout and walk while facing 12 batters. Junior right-handed pitcher Nate Facey (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) (2-1) went the first 5.0 innings to win, allowing five runs and eight hits.
 
NJCU had four doubles and five steals in the win, outhitting the Wolverines, 11-10. Despite stranding 10 runners on base, NJCU had timely hitting, including four sacrifice flies.
 
NJAC Player of the Week and senior first baseman Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) led the offensive attack, batting 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk while sophomore right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) was 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Junior catcher Jan Castellano (Prospect Park, NJ/Paterson Eastside) had two hits and continuing torching baserunners, throwing out two of the three Wesley runners who dared to challenge his arm. Remarkably, he has now thrown out nine of 20 attempted base stealers this year.
 
Also for NJCU, junior second baseman Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) walked twice and drove in two runs and senior center fielder Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen) walked three times and knocked in a run. Junior shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) was 2-for-5 with a double and run scored and sophomore left fielder Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) returned to the lineup, scoring twice. Sophomore designated hitter Lenin Gomez (Edison, NJ/Edison) added a pair of hits (2-for-4, 1 run, 1 walk) to extend his on-base streak to 15 straight games. Junior third baseman Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) notched his eighth double and scored twice.
 
For the Wolverines, members of the Capital Athletic Conference, freshman right fielder Kevin Schmitt (Philadelphia, Pa.) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs (one run) and junior center fielder Will Barton (North East, Md.) and senior shortstop Chris Seibert (Pitman, N.J.) each had two hits.
 
Freshman lefty Darin Matthews (Wilmington, Del.) lost (2-2). He started and was the first of five pitchers to throw. He walked five of the seven batters he faced in his only inning of work. Senior righty Connor Springsteen (Lawrenceville, N.J.) was Wesley's most effective pitcher, lasting 2.2 innings. He struck out four (no walks) and allowed just two hits.
 
MAJOR MOMENTS:

• NJCU scored three times in the top of the first without the benefit of a hit. NJCU opened the game with four consecutive walks—the fourth with the bases loaded as Berardi forced in a run. A sacrifice fly by Pena and a throwing error after a Berardi steal made it 3-0, NJCU.
• The Knights added a run in the second inning. Kraft led off with a double, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pulcine. LoGatto later doubled but was stranded at second with NJCU ahead, 4-0.
• Wesley got two runs back in the bottom of the second—including an RBI single by freshman second baseman Jarrett Wallace (Middletown, Del.) to make it 4-2.  
• A three-run fourth allowed NJCU to elevate the lead to 7-2. Ramirez and Kraft both walked to leadoff the frame and a bunt single by Castellano loaded the bases. LoGatto singled up the middle to knock in a run and Feehan's sacrifice fly made it 6-2 before an RBI single by Berardi drove in the seventh run.
• NJCU added an eighth run in the fifth as Pena was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a ground out by Pulcine.
• Wesley tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth to draw within 8-5. Barton doubled and after an RBI single plated the first run, Schmitt drove in two runs with a double to right center.
• But NJCU answered in the top of the sixth. Doubles by Feehan and Pena knocked in the first run and a Ramirez sacrifice fly made it 10-5. Kraft was hit by a pitch and after he stole second and the throw from the Wesley catcher went into center, Pena scored the 11th run before McCabe blanked the host Wolverines the rest of the way.

 
NOTABLES:

• Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) is still in 20th place in school history with 132 career hits.
• Lenin Gomez (Edison, NJ/Edison) has a 15-game on-base streak.
• Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) and Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) have 12 game on-base streaks.
• Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) owns a nine-game hitting streak.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU is back on the field on Thursday, April 5 when it hosts Rutgers-Newark (3:30 p.m.) in the opening game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference home-and-home series at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.

 
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