DAVENPORT, Fla. — The New Jersey City University baseball team's bats came alive today, Sunday, March 6, ending with a season-high 12 hits and four different Gothic Knights recording two or more hits, but it wasn't enough as the squad was defeated 12-5 against Nebraska Wesleyan University, on its second of six days at the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational Spring-Trip. NJCU was led by the top-of-their-order as the one-four hitters went a combined 9-for-16 with three runs scored and batted in all five of Jersey City's runs in the sunny afternoon. 

Junior Jon Taylor (Englewood, N.J./Dwight Morrow) was on the bump for New Jersey City (1-3), shutting down the first three hitters of the afternoon, giving the Gothic Knights momentum heading to the bottom half of the first. 

Similar to yesterday's matchup against Anna Maria University, the squad attacked early and got on the board first. Fellow junior Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) got the action going for NJCU, battling a eight-pitch at-bat into a walk. This set up another junior slugger, Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic), who mashed a double to right-field, putting two Gothics in scoring-position for senior captain Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional). Voss, as he did yesterday, got Jersey City on the board with a lazer to right-field, putting the squad up 1-0.

The defense again struggled, committing three errors in three innings that gave NWU (4-4) a 7-1 lead after four innings. 

Taylor pitched well for NJCU, finishing his day with 2.2 innings, no earned runs, and two strikeouts in his first outing of the season. 

After another offensive explosion by the Prairie Wolfs, they extended their lead to 11 runs heading into the bottom half of the fifth. 

NJCU did not let up, as the squad continued to fight back against NWU. The Gothic Knight bats woke up, scoring three runs in the inning and gaining the momentum back. Sophomore leather flasher, Ali Pompey (Belle Meade, N.J./Trenton Catholic) continued his hot Spring-Trip start with a base-hit to lead off the fifth. Leadoff-hitter, senior Mitchell Leslie (Gibbstown, N.J./Gloucester Tech) was able to bring Pompey home, after an infield single to second, Pompey head's-up base running allowed him to score from second-base on the play. Jersey City was just getting started in the inning. Following the base-hit by Leslie, Hernandez got another hit, putting two runners in scoring position for Vizzoni. The third-baseman came up with a clutch-hit to the left-side, bringing in Leslie. 

Again, Voss continued his blazing start to the Spring-Trip with a ground-rule double that came five feet from leaving the Northeast Regional Park, bringing in Hernandez to cut the lead to eight runs. 

For the Gothic Knights, they turned to junior Julian Fernandez (Union, N.J./Union) to hold the fire-power of NWU and he did just that.

Fernandez had a career outing, tossing five innings of one-run baseball, with four strikeouts and only allowing three hits during his outing. Fernandez was dealing throughout the afternoon, painting sliders and fastballs on the black. This was the most innings and strikeouts in a game for the junior. Also, he worked very efficiently, only throwing 70 pitches in this stretch. The Gothic Knight did not allow a run in his final four innings giving the NJCU offense a chance to make a comeback.

After remaining quiet for three innings, the Gothic Knights entered the ninth inning trailing, needing a large comeback. Jersey City did not go away without making some noise in the final half inning. Head coach Jerry Smith decided to give some of his younger players an opportunity and these young Gothic Knights made the most of their chance.

Leading off the ninth inning, speedster junior Caleb Ware (Newark, N.J./University) came into the game, and attacked the first strike that he saw, blasting it to left field for a single. Sophomore Ricky Tuero (West New York, N.J./Memorial) also entered the game for coach Smith, battling through a nine-pitch at-bat for a walk, getting two guys on with no outs. Leslie hit a moonshot that got over the right-field fence, but for a ground-rule double, scoring Ware. Freshman Tyler Kittle (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) got a chance in the bottom of the ninth after the Leslie double and also battled a long at-bat for a walk, restarting the Gothic Knight attempt for a comeback.

NWU closed the door on Jersey City's team, coming out on top 12-5. 

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights will again take the field tomorrow, March 7, but this time, NJCU will battle in their first doubleheader of the year against Penn State Brandywine. Game one first pitch is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. with game two following directly after. Check out https://njcugothicknights.com/sidearmstats/baseball to follow along with the live-stats for the game tomorrow.