JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University baseball team continued New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action Friday afternoon, April 7, as the Gothic Knights hosted conference rival #19 Rowan University. NJCU battled strong early, but ultimately fell to the Profs, 10-3. 

Jersey City (10-12, 1-3 NJAC) saw senior pitcher Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) get the start as Rowan (16-6, 2-2 NJAC) capitalized early with two outs in the inning to take a 2-0 lead. Luckily for NJCU despite being down early, Tannucilli was locked in after that first inning, as he pitched the next four innings after scoreless. Unfortunately though for Tannucilli, things out of his control told the narrative of the game, as in the first four innings NJCU's offense was retired in order, ultimately in unorthodox fashion. In the bottom of the first, junior third baseman Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) reached first with a two out single, but one pitch later was erased to end the inning after being caught stealing. Two innings later in the bottom of the third, freshman shortstop Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) also reached base virtue of a two out walk, but was also caught stealing to end the inning. In the fourth graduate outfielder Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional) singled with one out in the inning, but he too also was caught stealing second. 

NJCU though was not the only ones making mistakes on the base paths, as in the bottom of the first, Tannucilli ended the inning picking off a runner at second. Then, after throwing out three runners on Tuesday against Manhattanville, sophomore catcher Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) threw out another, throwing out a runner to open up the sixth inning. 

NJCU trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth after a sloppy defensive inning, but luckily the bats finally came together producing runs. In the inning prior, NJCU had the bases loaded but were unable to score runs as they grounded into a double play to end the inning. This  inning started off with a much different tone. Lunar led the inning off with a single, and advanced to second and third virtue of wild pitches. After, Voss worked a full count walk, before stealing second base, setting up runners on second and third with no outs. Then, the hot bat continued for Allo as he singled up the middle scoring both Lunar and Voss making the score 3-2 Profs. Allo then reached third on a passed ball, but eventually scored the tying run on a dropped third strike passed ball that trickled out of play, making the score 3-3. At the end of six innings of play NJCU had knotted the game back up.
 

Unfortunately though for the Gothic Knights, the remainder of the game was sloppy defensively and became the turning point that Rowan took advantage of. Defensively in the closing stretch, the defense combined for six critical errors that aided the Profs to score a run in the sixth, two runs in the seventh, four runs in the eighth, and a run in the ninth. Tannucilli exited in the eighth pitching 7.0 plus, strong inning, only allowing four earned runs over the stretch on nine hits and two strikeouts. Both freshman pitcher Mike Napolitano (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) and junior pitcher D.J. Dekis (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) also saw an unearned run each cross the plate in relief as well. Ultimately come games end Rowan won 10-3 to take the season series over NJCU.
 

Game Highlights:

- Allo's two hit performance bumps his hitting streak to fourteen straight games.

- Additionally in the series in particular Allo was four for eight with three RBI's being a constant contributor for the Gothic Knights offense.

- Despite a loss today, Tannucilli's start was his strongest of the season by far as his 7.0 plus inning marked the seventh time in his career he had completed seven innings or more of work in a single outing.

- Sophomore outfielder who played first base today, John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) had quite a consistent day, as he went two for three before being pinch ran for in the seventh. 
 

UP NEXT: 

The Gothic Knights resume action tomorrow, Saturday, April 8, in Galloway, N.J., as they will face Stockton University for a crucial double header. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. with the second game scheduled to start around 3:00 p.m. Last season this series was filled with excitement as both teams combined for fifty four runs in a two game stretch. To get back on track, NJCU needs the bats to come alive on Saturday.