WAYNE, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball squad played an early morning road New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game at William Paterson University on Sunday, April 30, before the rain set in, postponing game two to tomorrow, Monday, May 1. Senior rightfielder Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) went 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and a double, continuing his 21-game on-base streak, however NJCU fell to the Pioneers, 9-3. Jersey City and WPU will resume their doubleheader back in Wayne, N.J., at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow to close out NJAC regular-season play. The Gothic Knights' Senior Day, originally scheduled to be at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex on Monday, has been postponed and will be rescheduled later in the week against a to-be-determined opponent.

NJCU (12-26, 2-15 NJAC) saw senior Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) get the start and the righthander tossed 138 pitches over 7.2 innings in the loss, likely the last start of his collegiate career. In addition to Hernandez, graduate centerfielder Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional) was 1-for-5 with a double, extending his own on-base streak to 29 games in a row.

The Pioneers (24-13, 11-6 NJAC) started off the offense with three runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead. After two scoreless innings, WPU plated three more in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and an error to go up 6-0. Following a scoreless fifth, Jersey City got on the board in the top of the sixth.

Junior third baseman Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) led off with a single and two at-bats later, Hernandez put two runners on with a single to right. Rookie second baseman Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) then plated Allo from second with a one-run single to right, making it 6-1. Next up was sophomore backstop Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township), who flew out to left for the sacrifice, allowing Hernandez to score from third to cut the lead to 6-2. The Pioneers went up 9-2 in the eighth and NJCU tried to answer in the top of the ninth.

With two outs, senior Stephon Waddell (Newark, N.J./Weequahic) came in to pinch hit and was plunked to reach base safely. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch before sophomore pinch hitter Salvatore Verlingo (Nutley, N.J./St. Mary) reached on a walk to put two runners on. Freshman pinch hitter Montrell Mayo-Smith (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton) reached on a fielder's choice, which loaded the bases thanks to an errant throw trying to get the runner at second. Waddell scored next on a wild pitch, making it 9-3. Junior Ricky Tuero (West New York, N.J./Memorial), also in as a pinch hitter, was then hit by a pitch to reload the bases, but NJCU was unable to do further damage and the game came to a close.

Up Next/Schedule Updates:
As mentioned, NJCU was initially scheduled to face Saint Elizabeth University on Senior Day at the Gerrity tomorrow. SEU had its own weather related conference scheduling issues and was forced to schedule its own make up on Monday. With that game canceled, and today's game two of the doubleheader rained out, Jersey City will travel back to Wayne, N.J., for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch to close out NJAC play against William Paterson. The Gothic Knights are looking to reschedule Senior Day later this week against a to-be-determined opponent.