NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team played another close game against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Rutgers-Newark on Friday afternoon, April 28. After snagging a low-scoring, 4-2, victory at home a day prior, Jersey City was well on its way to another win over the Scarlet Raiders on the road today, leading 2-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, Rutgers-Newark used a two-out rally to plate three runs in the 3-2 comeback win.

For NJCU (12-25, 2-14 NJAC) freshman righthander Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) once again put on a strong display on the mound, going 8.2 innings in the start, striking out five and allowing two earned against the Scarlet Raiders (21-14-1, 5-10-1 NJAC). The Gothic Knights nearly got on the board in the top of the first but eventually struck first in the top of the third. Junior third baseman Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) led off with a one-out walk, eventually stealing second with two outs. Then, senior rightfielder Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) smacked a double down the line in left to make it 1-0 — he finished the day 3-for-5 with a RBI, two doubles and a stolen base.

Rutgers-Newark pushed Yarson into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but the rookie got the last batter of the inning to fly out, keeping the score at 1-0. Jersey City then loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but was unable to push any runs across. A scoreless sixth was then answered by NJCU scoring one in the top of the seventh. Freshman shortstop Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) led off with a single to right and then stole second. A groundout from Allo moved Lunar to third before before the rookie crossed the plate on an errant throw by the catcher in the next at-bat, making it 2-0.

Clinging to that 2-0 lead, the Green and Gold saw Yarson get the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth, leaving NJCU needing just one out to get the win. Back-to-back walks ended Yarson's day before Hernandez came in to try and preserve the win. Unfortunately, he hit the first batter he faced and then a run scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1. Then, a two-run infield single ended the game in favor of the Scarlet Raiders, 3-2.

Up Next:
Due to the impeding inclement weather, NJCU next time out will now be on the road in Wayne, N.J., on Sunday morning, April 30, for a doubleheader at William Paterson University. The Gothic Knights and Pioneers will look to squeeze in two games before a potential wash-out in the NJAC regular-season finale.