NEWARK, N.J. —The New Jersey City University baseball team fell today, April 28, against their New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival, Rutgers-Newark University. The Gothic Knights, who led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the 4th, erupted for 17 hits this afternoon, including six different sluggers recording a multi-hit day, but it wasn't enough as the Scarlet Raiders ultimately defeated the squad 18-11, respectively. Standing out in the lineup during this conference bout was junior outfielder Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional), who tied a season-high with four hits this afternoon, moving his average to .406, which is also top-5 in the NJAC and only behind freshman Matt Kaliske (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) on the team (.409). 

NJCU (12-24, 3-12) sent out the veteran right-hander Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) to make his seventh start of the season and his 17th career-start, leading the current Green and Gold staff. The junior had his knuckle-ball working early in the game by retiring 6 of the first 7 batters that he faced. Following a Scarlet Raider run in the bottom of the 3rd, Jersey City responded right back by re-taking the lead in the following inning. The 2-6 hitters for NJCU all had multi-hit days this afternoon and their damage started here in the 4th inning with juniors Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) and Mitchell Leslie (Gibbstown, N.J./Gloucester Tech) reaching on base-knocks. Freshman Matt Kaliske (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) picked-up the first RBI of the game for the squad by lasering a ball to right-field and freshman Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) gave JC the lead with a rocket to right-center, bringing in Leslie. Later in the inning, sophomore Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) capped off the rally by legging out a base-hit to shortstop, extending the road-team lead, 3-1. 

The Scarlet Raiders (13-18, 3-12 NJAC) offense came right back, scoring seven runs (four unearned) in bottom of the 4th to take a six run lead. Continuing to battle, the squad did not let-up and slashed the lead down to two runs in the next half. The inning began with Voss reaching via an error and Vizzoni advancing Voss to third-base by launching a double to the right-center gap. Leslie collected his second hit of the day, this time a double, allowing Voss and Vizzoni to come around the bases. A few batters later, sophomore Ali Pompey (Belle Meade, N.J./Trenton Catholic) did his job by knocking in Leslie on a fielder's-choice, cutting the Newark lead to two runs. 

Tannucilli controlled the RC bats in the fifth to keep the two-run lead. But, the Gothic Knight defense would struggle in the next inning, allowing five unearned runs to give the lead right back to the Scarlet Raiders. Again, the eight-run deficit did not affect the mindset of the NJCU hitters, as the squad came right back with three runs of their own in the top of the 7th. Kaliske hit a double over the center-fielder's head and a base-knock by Vaughn forced a pitching change for Newark. Following the switch, Pompey welcomed the Scarlet and White reliever with RBI base-hit to left-center that brought home Kaliske. On the following pitch, Moreno took one for the team by wearing the pitch, loading the bases for junior Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community). The patient Hernandez took his RBI walk and Voss cashed in on a RBI base-hit, making it 14-9 ballgame. 

The team from Newark kept the pressure offensively, bringing in four more runs in the next three innings. Again, showing life and heart, the NJCU offense scored two more runs in the top half of the 9th. After Pompey took a walk, head coach Jerry Smith turned to his bench and freshman John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) made the most of his opportunity, also reaching on a walk. The tandem of Hernandez and Voss at the top-of-the-order made some noise again on back-to-back RBI hits to the outfield, but the home-team closed the door, taking the 18-11 victory. 

Up Next: The New Jersey City University baseball team will look to avenge their lost against the Scarlet Raiders tomorrow, April, 29, at the Thomas M. Gerrtiy Athletic Complex. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.