JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Following morning rain, the New Jersey City University baseball team looked to bounce back after the loss to Alvernia University on Wednesday, March 22, as the Gothic Knights took on the Drew University Rangers on Thursday, March 23, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. NJCU bounced back strongly and took home the win in comfortable fashion, 20-4.

NJCU (5-8) took an early lead after a scoreless top of the first by senior pitcher Berto Reyes (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), with a first-pitch home run off the bat of senior outfielder Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community). The Rangers (10-5) though, bounced back in the top of the second to take the lead back from the Gothic Knights, 2-1, after producing three hits late in the inning.

The game broke open for NJCU in the bottom of the second, as the squad scored seven runs in the inning. It started with a leadoff walk to freshman infielder Adrian Contreras (Union City, N.J./Union City), and then a combination of several extra-base hits, errors and walks allowed NJCU to bat around the order, giving the Gothic Knights a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. At the end of the second inning, NJCU led by six runs, 8-2.

The Gothic Knights continued to add onto their lead in the fifth with an RBI single from Hernandez, and poured on even more runs in the sixth after Drew scored two runs of its own, making it 18-4. Senior outfielder Caleb Ware (Newark, N.J./University) brought in the first run of the inning with a bases loaded walk and junior catcher Ricky Tuero (West New York, N.J./Memorial) followed after with a walk of his own. A throwing error scored another run, allowing Hernandez to reach first safely, scoring Contreras. Then, graduate student Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional), who made the start at first base this afternoon, along with senior outfielder Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) hit back-to-back doubles, tacking on another four runs for NJCU to break the inning open. Junior Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech), at designated hitter today, capped off the nine-run inning with a two-run homer to left center, tallying his second long ball of the season.

Senior pitcher Ronnie Wallraff (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) came on in relief in the seventh and tossed a clean top of the inning, striking out two along the way. Hernandez picked up another RBI in the bottom of the eighth with a double to left, extending NJCU's lead to 19-4. Wallraff stayed in the game to pitch the eighth, striking out two more batters, before freshman Mike Napolitano (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) pinch hit and drove in the Gothic Knights 20th run of the game with a double down the left field line, making the score 20-4. Wallraff closed things out in the top of the ninth, picking up his fifth and sixth strikeouts in his 3.0 total innings pitched, earning himself save, and sealed the Gothic Knights victory.

Highlights:
- Hernandez had a great day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and fell a triple short of the cycle.
- With his homerun, Allo extended his hitting streak to five games and his on-base streak to seven.
- NJCU's 20 runs scored this afternoon is the most the team has scored against Drew since the squad put up 16 against the Rangers in 2011.
- Senior pitcher Julian Fernandez (Union, N.J./Union) only recorded one out on two pitches in the second inning, but it was enough for him to earn his second win of the season.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return home to the Gerrity tomorrow, Friday, March 24, for thier third straight home game in three days, as they host Baruch College. Opening pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. NJCU is riding a six-game winning streak against the Bearcats, dating back to 2014, including four in Jersey City.