MAHWAH, N.J. — The bats awoke for the New Jersey City University baseball squad this afternoon, Thursday, April 22, as the Gothic Knights put up 11 runs against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe Ramapo College. Unfortunately, a late comeback by the Roadrunners stifled NJCU's momentum to the tune of a two-out walk-off double and a 12-11 loss. The Gothic Knights will have another crack at Ramapo tomorrow, Friday, April 23, in the second half of their home-and-home series with the Roadrunners, this time at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City, N.J., at 3:30 p.m.

NJCU (4-18, 2-9 NJAC) held a strong 8-5 lead through five and a half innings against Ramapo (7-6, 6-5 NJAC) as freshman righthander Nick Chiappisi (Toms River, N.J./Manchester Township) got his second career start. The rookie went 5.0 innings and allowed two earned (five total) with a pair of strikeouts. He was relieved by sophomore Aaron Ayers (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), who tossed the final 3.2 innings, struck out six batters and did not allow an earned run — but did give up seven unearned and was saddled with his third loss of the season. Overall, the Gothic Knights were charged with seven errors.

Offensively, NJCU did rake with the bats en route to 11 runs, the fourth-highest output of the season. The team got it started in the top of the first when junior Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional) blasted a RBI-double down the line in left to make it 1-0. Overall, Voss crushed the ball all day long and finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, a double, was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored twice. Now tied 1-1 in the top of the second with one out and bases loaded, rookie Elijah Colon (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) notched a sacrifice for the RBI to make it 2-1. However, Ramapo scored four runs to take a 5-2 lead in the home half of the second, although only two were earned due to a couple Gothic Knight errors. NJCU got one back in the top of the third to make it 5-3 when junior Mitchell Leslie (Gibbstown, N.J./Gloucester Tech) drew a two-out, bases loaded walk for the RBI.

The top of the fourth is where the Gothic Knights bats exploded for five runs to take the 8-5 advantage. With one out and the bases loaded, sophomore Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) reached on a RBI infield single to the hot corner for the first run. The next at-bat saw freshman Ali Pompey (Belle Meade, N.J./Trenton Catholic) fly out to center for the sacrifice RBI and run number two of the inning. Another rookie came up to the plate next in Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic), and proceeded to smack a two-run single down the line in left to make it 7-5. Moreno then stole second and was immediately plated on the second pitch of the next at-bat by Leslie with a RBI single to center to make it 8-5. Leslie joined Voss with a big day with the bat as well, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. He also doubled, walked once, stole two bases and scored once.

Ramapo got one back in the bottom of the sixth as Ayers entered the game, although it was unearned. However, NJCU plated two in the top of the seventh to make it a 10-6 game. With two outs and a runner on second, senior Brandon Rivera (Aberdeen, N.J./Matawan Regional) reached on an infield single, scoring junior Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)) on the play thanks to an errant throw by the Roadrunner shortstop. Rivera then stole second and was plated in the next at-bat by Voss via a RBI single to center. Ramapo exploded for four runs in the home half to tie it up at 10-10, again with all four coming unearned. After a scoreless eighth, NJCU retook the lead in the top of the ninth thanks to a Ramapo error. With two outs and Leslie on third, Elijah Colon (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) reach on an error to score Leslie.

In the bottom of the ninth, the leadoff hitter reached on an error and was then taken out for a pinch runner, who immediately stole second. The runner was moved over to third via a sac bunt, and scored on the next play during a sac fly in foul territory to the first baseman. The next batter reached on a mishandled bunt attempt and was then plated for the walk-off with a double down the line in left.