MONTCLAIR, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team suffered a pair of tough defeats in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play today, Saturday, April 24, as Montclair State University defeated the Gothic Knights 14-4 and 17-8 in games one and two of a doubleheader at Yogi Berra Stadium.

Game 1
NJCU (4-21, 2-12 NJAC) fell behind 11-0 through 5.0 innings in game one against the Red Hawks (18-5, 10-4 NJAC) but finally mustered some offense beginning in the sixth, scored two then and one in each of the seventh and ninth innings. Gothic Knights' starter sophomore Jon Taylor (Englewood, N.J./Dwight Morrow) got chased in the second inning after allowing three earned runs — six total — and was relieved by junior Tom Paul (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro). The righthander did allow two more runs to score in the second — both charged to Taylor — but limited the damage to just that. He went on to pitch three more innings, allowing just one run before giving way to some other members of the bullpen. Two of those relievers were freshman Michael Urbano (Fanwood, N.J./Scotch Plains Fanwood) and sophomore Julian Fernandez (Union, N.J./Union). Both tossed scoreless innings, allowing a combined three hits. 

Offensively, NJCU got on the board with a pair in the sixth. Freshman Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) reached on a one-out walk and was immediately plated via a RBI double from junior Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)). Two at-bats later, senior Brandon Rivera (Aberdeen, N.J./Matawan Regional) notched a RBI single to left to score Colon from second. In the next inning, freshman Elijah Colon (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) reached on a one-out walk and then stole second. Freshman David Duran (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) then knocked a double to left center for the RBI. In the top of the ninth, junior Mitchell Leslie (Gibbstown, N.J./Gloucester Tech) led off with a single to center and then sophomore Caleb Ware (Newark, N.J./University) came in as a pinch runner. Senior Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy) put runners on the corners with a single up the middle and Duran notched his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly.

Game 2
The Gothic Knights started off strong in this one and took an early 3-1 lead after two-and-a-half innings of play. Leslie manufactured the first of the day. He reached on a one-out single, stole second, got to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. In the second, Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)) connected cleanly on the fifth pitch of his one-out at-bat and drilled the first home run of his career.



Three at-bats later, Leslie scored again on another miscue by Montclair, this time thanks to an error at first. However, the Red Hawks exploded for six runs in the home half of the third to take 7-3 lead and chase starter junior John Pudder (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan). The reliever-turned-starter finished with 2.1 innings and did not actually allow an earned run and struck out a pair. He was relieved by classmate Paul Tannucili who tossed then next 2.1 innings.

NJCU got one back in the top of the fourth thanks to a one-out sac fly for sophomore Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic). The Gothic Knights then answered again down 8-4 in the top of the fifth when Rivera knocked a RBI single through the left side to score Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)) from third. But again, the Red Hawks put up another six-run inning in the home half to make it 14-5. NJCU put up one run apiece in the next three innings to trim it back to a 14-8 game. In the top of the sixth with runners on the corners and two outs, Elijah Colon (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) caught himself in a pickle at first, and during the commotion, Duran managed to score from third before the third out was made. Then in the top of the seventh, with the bases loaded and two outs, Rivera hit a sac fly to center. Finally, in the top of the eighth with two outs and Ware on third, Elijah Colon (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) notched a RBI single to right.

Highlights
- Mitchell finished the day 4-for-6 with three walks, a stolen base and a pair of runs.
- Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)) was 4-for-9 with two RBI, two doubles, a home run, a stolen base and three runs.
- Rivera went 3-for-7 with three RBI, a walk, a sac fly and a stolen base.

What's Next
The Gothic Knights return to action for a single game on Thursday, April 29, at 3:30 p.m. at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex when Kean University comes to visit. NJCU then goes to Union, N.J., to play the Cougars on Friday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m.