EWING, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team opened up its 2022 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) regular-season today, Saturday, April 2, against The College of New Jersey. In the doubleheader, the Gothic Knights bats did not travel well, as NJCU was shutout for the first time all season in both matchups, 4-0 in game one and 7-0 in game two, respectively,

However, continuing to show his growth on the mound, freshman Andre Dean (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) chucked his first-career complete game (8.0 innings), only allowing three earned runs, while striking out three batters. In his first four career starts, Dean has set a career high for innings pitched in each game (4.1, 4.2, 6.0, 8.0) and lowered his ERA to 3.91 for the season. Offensively, Jersey City (8-11, 0-2 NJAC) was paced by another rookie, designated hitter/catcher Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township), who led the team with four hits this afternoon.

In game one, Jersey City fell behind quick, as the Lions (9-7, 2-0 NJAC) took an early 1-0 leading heading into the second. In the next half inning, Vaughn got things going with a base-hit screamer up the middle, but TCNJ held the Gothic Knights in check without allowing the freshman to come across. After tacking on a run in the third and the fifth innings, JC found themselves in a 3-0 deficit with just four innings left. Needing a run, junior third baseman Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) came to the plate and got himself aboard with a line-drive to left. But again, the Lions showed no mercy and stranded Vizzoni on base.

Dean was perfect in his next two innings of work, going 1-2-3 in both the sixth and seventh, but a TCNJ homerun in the eighth gave Jersey City just three outs to collect four runs. Trying to start the ninth inning rally were the two sluggers who mashed all game, as Vizzoni had his second hit of the day, this time a rocket up the middle. Following a fly-out to left, Vaughn came up to the plate and scorched his third of the day, putting two runners on with the tying run on deck for Jersey City. Similar to the previous rallies, the Lions came out unscathed, getting the final out and taking home the 4-0 victory in the NJAC opener.

The story stayed the same for the Gothic Knights in game two, as the squad was only able to get six hits across in the defeat. On the mound in the second game for the Green and Gold was junior right-hander Justin Wiltsey (Hamilton Township, N.J./Hamilton West), who gave the team 4.2 innings, while allowing six runs and striking out five. The Lions did the damage again first, as TCNJ knocked in one run in the bottom half of the first. Continuing right where he left off, Vaughn collected his fourth hit of the day with a shot up the middle. The catcher was able to make the most of a pass ball, moving himself into scoring position with one out. But, the squad was unable to finish the job, again stranding Vaughn on base.

The next inning is where the TCNJ offense woke up, as the Lions erupted for three runs to take a 4-0 lead. Wiltsey would complete the next two innings without allowing a run, but a Lion homerun pushed the right-hander out of the game and head coach Jerry Smith turned to senior Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) to keep the home team's offense in-check. The knuckle-baller did just that. Even though the JC offense never turned on, the Old Bridge native kept the Lions in check, finishing the final 3.1 innings while only allowing one hit, striking out two and not surrendering a single run. Showing life in the final inning, junior outfielder Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) started the two-out rally by stinging a ball to the opposite field. Fellow junior Jon Taylor (Englewood, N.J./Dwight Morrow) followed up a base-hit with one of his own, giving the Green and Gold two runners on with two outs. Unfortunately it would stop there as NJCU was defeated 7-0.

Up Next:
NJCU will look to avenge its defeat as the squad hits the road and takes on non-conference foe SUNY New Paltz on Tuesday, April 5, in New Paltz, N.Y. This is the first meeting with the Hawks since May 1, 2019, which was won by Jersey City. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.