WESTMINSTER, Md,. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | McDaniel College scored three runs in the fifth inning to separate itself in a tied ball game and slipped past the New Jersey City University baseball, 7-4, in a non-conference game played on February 23 at Preston Field. 
 
NJCU (0-2) struck twice in the top of the first on a two-run home run by sophomore first baseman Ricky Voss (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) before the Green Terror (3-0) scored in the bottom of the inning and plated two unearned runs in the second to grab a 3-2 edge after a throwing error extended the inning. NJCU tied it in the fourth on an RBI single by freshman designated hitter Paul Franceschini (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro).
 
But McDaniel scored three times on four hits in the fifth. Senior designated hitter Jack Slater (Hebron, Conn.) led off with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Tom Daly (Haddon Heights, N.J.) to give the hosts a 4-3 lead. Back-to-back RBI singles by junior right fielder Isaiah Ishmail (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and junior center fielder Julian Jenkins (Tempe, Ariz.) pushed the lead to 6-3. Each team scored single runs in the seventh. The Green Terror had 12 hits and left 12 men on base.
 
Voss led NJCU in defeat, driving in three RBIs, including an RBI single in the seventh to compliment his two-run shot in the first inning. He was 2-for-3 with a walk. Sophomore center fielder Miguel Valentin (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) contributed two hits (2-for-4) as seven different Gothic Knights had a hit.
 
Freshman shortstop Joey Hubinger (West Milford, N.J.) was 3-for-5 with two runs and Slater was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Jenkins finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI and a double while Ishmail drove in two runs. Daly was hit by a pitch three times.
 
Freshman right-handed pitcher Nathan O'Brochta (Hornell, N.Y.) was the winner (1-0) in relief. The second pitcher used, he tossed 4.1 innings, striking out six (no walks) and one run against five hits in 4.1 innings. Senior Jordan Rhodes (Fawn Grove, Pa.) earned the save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. 
 
Sophomore righty Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) (0-1) took the loss for NJCU over 4.2 innings. Freshman righty Aaron Ayers (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) struck out two in 2.0 innings of relief in his collegiate debut.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: Only the second meeting between the schools and the first in eight years. McDaniel won 7-1 on March 11, 2012 in Winter Haven, Fla.
• Voss hit his third career homer for NJCU.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU heads to Swarthmore, Pa. on Saturday, February 29 for a non-conference doubleheader with Swarthmore College. The Garnet received votes in the D3baseball.com Top 25 preseason poll
• Video: http://bit.ly/swat-youtube
• Live Stats: http://bit.ly/scbase-livestats 

 
GOTHIC KNIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA:
For the latest on NJCU baseball and #NJCUBB, follow the Gothic Knights on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and SnapChat. We Are Jersey City's Team.