WAYNE, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but was unable to muster much offense after that as the Gothic Knights suffered a tough 15-1 loss at the hands of William Paterson University on the road on opening day today, Thursday, March 11. New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play does not officially begin until the month of April, so this one goes into the books as a non-conference loss for NJCU.

As mentioned, the Gothic Knights (0-1) were able to take the game's first lead against the Pioneers (1-0) in the top of the first inning. Senior infielder Brandon Rivera (Aberdeen, N.J./Matawan Regional) got things started with a one-out double, securing NJCU's first hit of the season and advancing to third on a bobble by WPU's shortstop. Two at-bats later, freshman outfielder Ali Pompey (Belle Meade, N.J./Trenton Catholic) plated Rivera with a single up the middle to put the Gothic Knights on the board for their first run of the year.

NJCU was able to hold that lead until the bottom of the second when a couple of errors helped William Paterson to a five-run explosion to put the home team ahead. The Gothic Knights limited WPU to one run in each of the next two innings before the Pioneers offense woke once more for six runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of fifth to take the 13-1 lead. William Paterson scratched across two more in the home half of the eighth before the game ended after the next half inning.

Highlights:
- NJCU notched seven total hits, including a pair of doubles from the top of the order.
- Rivera finished 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
- Pompey recorded the Gothic Knights' only RBI while going 1-for-4. Junior Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional), who got the start in left, and sophomore rightfielder Justin Wiltsey (Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Hamilton West) each also went 1-for-4 at the plate. Voss was the other player to double for NJCU.
- Junior knuckleballer Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) was saddled with the loss on opening day, tossing 4.1 innings and giving up eight earned.

What's Next:
The Gothic Knights will look to hop back on the saddle tomorrow afternoon, Friday, March 12, when they travel to Union, N.J., for a non-conference doubleheader at Kean University. You can follow all the action against the Cougars live via stats and video.