HOBOKEN, N.J. — A career performance on the mound today, April 12, by junior Jon Taylor (Englewood, N.J./Dwight Morrow) and senior Mitchell Leslie (Gibbstown, N.J./Gloucester Tech) tying a career-high with three hits was not enough against the Stevens Institute of Technology as the Ducks defeated the New Jersey City University baseball team in a pitchers' thriller, 4-2. NJCU struck first in the third inning taking an early 1-0 lead, but the Ducks offense was too much, taking the lead in the bottom-half of the sixth and securing the two-run victory.

Taylor finished his afternoon with a career-high 6.0 innings pitched, allowing five hits, while punching out three and surrendering only two Stevens (21-9) runs. The right-hander also threw a career-high 98 pitches in the defeat and kept the game tied at 1-1 for most of the ballgame, until the Ducks knocked a go-ahead base-hit in the sixth and ultimately the game-winning hit versus the Gothic Knights (8-17).

Head coach Jerry Smith turned to a different lineup today against the Ducks with sophomore shortstop Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) taking the lead-off spot. This was no surprise for the usual nine-hole hitter as Moreno is currently on a five-game tear, going 9-for-18 (.500) with five RBI and coming home seven times. After Taylor stranded three baserunners in the first two innings, Jersey City's offense came to the plate looking to give their right-hander the early lead. The Green and Gold gave Taylor the first run support of the game, with the new top-of-the-lineup making their mark first. Moreno led off the top of the third with screamer down the leftfield line, moving himself into scoring position with nobody out. Also moving up in the Gothic Knight order was Moreno's partner up the middle, sophomore Ali Pompey (Belle Meade, N.J./Trenton Catholic), and the second baseman made the most of his opportunity in the three-hole by knocking in Moreno via laser down the rightfield line to give Jersey City an early 1-0 lead. NJCU was not able to hold the lead for long, with the Ducks flying right back and tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the third. The game remained quiet, as Taylor did not allow a single hit in his next two innings of work. But, the Gothic Knight offense was held scoreless as well, also going hitless during this stretch.

As stated before, the Stevens offense resurrected in the bottom sixth, re-taking the lead 2-1 following two-base hits off Taylor. The right-hander kept his composure, stranding three Duck baserunners and ending his afternoon by limiting the damage and holding the deficit to one run. In the following inning, Leslie led off the top-half of the seventh with a single to right, but a pitching change by the Red and White kept the Gothic Knights in check, not allowing a run in the inning. Heading to the bottom of the seventh and with the bullpen limited due to five games in the last four days, coach Smith turned to junior third baseman Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic), who had not appeared on the mound since his freshman year against Trinity University (Texas). The slugger only allowed one run in the inning, keeping NJCU within striking distance with two innings to play. 

With just six outs to play, junior outfielder Caleb Ware (Newark, N.J./University), who found himself in the lineup for the sixth consecutive game after hitting .437 in his last five, led off by drawing a walk, and then used his speed to interrupt the rhythm of the Duck pitcher and caused a balk, moving himself into scoring position. Making most of the mistakes from the Red and White defense, Ware came across following an error on a Moreno ground ball, cutting the deficit to one run. Reigniting the Gothic Knight rally was Pompey and junior centerfielder Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional), both reaching via free passes, but the Ducks stranded both, holding their 3-2 lead. 

Stevens would bring in one more run in the eighth, securing their 4-2 victory in the non-conference battle. 

Up Next:
NJCU will look to end their eight-game skid when the squad returns to the field for a road game in Montclair, N.J., on Thursday, April 14, to take on New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival, Montclair State University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.