JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University baseball team continued New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action, as they took on conference foe Kean University for the second straight day, hosting them at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex, Friday, April 21. NJCU produced a strong day offensively, but ultimately fell late 18-13 to the Cougars.

Jersey City (11-21, 1-11 NJAC) opened up the game down 2-0 early, as senior infielder Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) got the start. NJCU was held scoreless after the first inning as Kean (21-11-1, 10-1-1 NJAC) pitched out of trouble stranding graduate outfielder Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional) at third. The beginning of the explosive offense began in the second, sophomore catcher Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) ripped the first extra base hit of the day with a double to lead off the inning. Eventually, the bases became loaded setting up Voss, as he drilled a bases clearing double that bounced off the base of the fence, giving NJCU a 3-2 lead in the second.

Vizzoni pitched a scoreless second and third frame, and was greeted with more run support in the bottom of the third as freshman second baseman Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) drilled his first career home run to left field. Later in the inning, Vaughn also scored as freshman infielder Adrian Contreras (Union City, N.J./Union City) drilled an RBI single down the middle putting the Gothic Knights up three, 5-2. 

The offensive surge was just beginning though as in the top of the fourth, Kean answered back with two runs making the score 5-4. At that point in the game two balls had already left the ball park for both teams, but there were plenty more home runs to come. This became immediately present after the second pitch in the bottom of the inning, as junior third baseman Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) drilled a home run to center field putting NJCU back up two. Later in the inning Vizzoni furthered his run support as he brought home Voss on an RBI single putting NJCU up 7-4.

Struggles defensively for NJCU came in the fifth and the sixth as they allowed eleven runs over the two inning stretch, with multiple pitchers struggling out of the bullpen in relief of Vizzoni. Typically in most games, one of those innings alone could be enough to secure a victory in a game, but this game was anything but typical. NJCU trailed 10-7 in the bottom of the fifth, but Contreras then drilled his first career home run to left center making the score 10-8. 

This turned out to not be the only time in the game where Contreras left the ballpark as he did it again later on in the seventh. But first in the sixth after NJCU allowed five runs and trailed 15-8, senior outfielder Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) drilled his eighth home run of the season to right, cutting the deficit back to six, 15-9.

 

After allowing a grand slam in the sixth, senior pitcher Frank Shipman (Edison, N.J./Edison) pitched a clean slate in the seventh, allowing NJCU's bats to continue its momentum. Contreras made it 15-11 after drilling his second home run, also scoring senior outfielder Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial), and then later cut the deficit down to two as Hernandez nearly missed a home run off the top of the fence that resulted in a two RBI double making the score 15-13.

Unfortunately for NJCU that was the last time the team was able to score a run as history turned out to be on Keans end, as they provided five more runs in the ninth, including two more long balls finishing the game out with a combined nine between both teams. NJCU had five of those home runs with Contreras providing the first two of his career, Yarson also with his first, Hernandez and Allo also setting the total. While it was an 18–13 loss, it was a much needed day for the offense after only scoring three runs the day before in defeat, something that the Gothic Knights can use as momentum to carry out towards the closing stages of conference play with just over a week remaining on the season.

Highlights:

- Contreras became the last player to hit his first two career home runs in the same game, since junior infielder Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) on March 31, of last season. 

- With his two stolen bases today Voss now matches his uniform number of eighteen total stolen bases on the season, as he has already achieved a career high and is just two away from the twenty mark.

- As a whole NJCU had nine extra base hits which was remarkable as well as a stretch of six straight innings putting runs up on the board, as well as their five home runs coming consecutively in five straight innings from the third to the seventh, a scenario that likely will never be matched again.
 

Up Next:

The Gothic Knights hit the road Saturday, April 22, as they continue NJAC play against Ramapo College for a double header in Mahwah, N.J.  First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. with game two to follow shortly after. With six conference games left on the season NJCU is looking to capitalize towards making a late push at the NJAC playoffs.