JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team returned to Jersey City on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 26, as the Gothic Knights hosted SUNY Brockport at Caven Point Field for their 2022 home-opener. NJCU fought hard over the nine-inning contest, but ultimately fell to the Golden Eagles, 8-1.

Junior right fielder Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) was once again a bright spot for the Green and Gold (1-1) in this one, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base, also reaching on a hit-by-pitch against Brockport (1-0). He's now batting .500 through two early-season games.

Three pitchers saw the bump in this one for the Gothic Knights, highlighted by a standout performance from freshman righty Riley Morrow (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township). The rookie hurler tossed 4.0 innings in relief, allowing no earned runs while giving up just one hit and striking out five. Junior right hander Justin Wiltsey (Hamilton Township, N.J./Hamilton West) also tossed 4.0 innings in the start, allowing four earned and striking out five.

Rookie catcher Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) had a decent day, as well, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Junior designated hitter Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) was 1-for-4, with his lone hit coming on a long shot to left-center field for a ground-rule double — the fences at Caven Point, a multipurpose facility built for football, are extremely long, and the ball would likely have gone out at Jersey City's regular home field, the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. Sophomore left fielder David Duran (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) reached base twice, as well, going 1-for-3 with a walk.

NJCU's only run of the day game in the bottom of the ninth when base runner extraordinaire junior Caleb Ware (Newark, N.J./University) came on with no outs and manufactured his own run once more. After a foul out to left field, Ware started by tagging up and reaching second safely. Then, after the next batter struck out, Ware advanced to third on a wild pitch. Finally, a wild pitch struck again in the next at-bat and Ware crossed the plate safely.

Up Next:
The Green and Gold have one more game in the Northeast before heading down to Florida for Spring Break. Jersey City will head up to Newburgh, N.Y., to battle with Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday afternoon, March 2, with a scheduled 3:00 p.m. first pitch.