JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team hosted its final game of the season on Monday, May 8, as the Gothic Knights hosted Saint Elizabeth University for Senior Day at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. Eleven members of the NJCU baseball class of 2023 were recognized before the game. After, NJCU closed out the season victorious, winning 12-2 in seven innings. the day was also highlighted by a pair of graduates as graduate student Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional) set the all-time program record with the 130th of his career, while senior Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) reached 100 strikeouts for his career.

Jersey City (13-27) mixed things up on Senior Day on the mound, as graduate pitcher Alex Sanchez (Elizabeth, N.J./Alexander Hamilton Prep) got the nod for his third start of the season against the Eagles (14-26). Despite allowing a run on two hits in the first, Sanchez was effective in his lone inning of work, striking out the first batter he faced along with making outs efficiently to close out the inning. NJCU battled back in the bottom of the first, as senior outfielder Caleb Ware (Newark, N.J./University) got the offense off to a hot start with a single to right. Ware eventually stole second and was soon followed by senior outfielder Josh Hernandez (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) who got hit by a pitch. Then with runners on first and second and one out, Voss came to the plate needing just one RBI to set the program record, which stood at 126. With a decent hitters count, Voss drilled a line drive into the left field corner for a double, scoring Ware to make history yet again.

The runs did not stop there however, as another crossed the plate a batter later when freshman second baseman Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) brought home a run with a ground out. Then a batter later, senior shortstop Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) drilled a RBI double into the right center field gap putting NJCU up 3-1. NJCU didn't score further in the inning as senior and eventual winning pitcher Ronnie Wallraff (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) came in next. Wallraff was spot on as well as despite walking the first batter he faced, he set down the next three batters  allowing NJCU to carry its offensive momentum.

The bottom of the second saw NJCU score three more runs as this time the production came from the majority of the youthful players on the Gothic Knights roster as junior third baseman Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) and Yarson each brought home runs with RBI singles. The inning closed out with seniority being the deciding factor as Vizzoni again produced another RBI, this time drawing a walk with the bases loaded pushing the score to 6-1.

Senior pitcher Frank Shipman (Edison, N.J./Edison) came in to hold things in the third as he produced a very quick one two three inning along with a strikeout. The Gothic Knights threatened again in the bottom half of the inning after Ware provided his second hit of the game, but nobody was able to bring him home. Senior pitcher Julian Fernandez (Union, N.J./Union) came in after and also retired the side in order despite allowing a lead off walk as he also pitched a quick inning after providing a routine double play.

One more run crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth as Hernandez, Voss and Yarson all singled, loading up the bases. Vizzoni again came up clutch with runners in scoring position, this time hitting a sacrifice fly to deep right field pushing the score to 7-1.

Tannucilli was the final senior pitcher to take the mound as he took over pitching duties the remainder of the game. After another hot start, the Eagles worked Tannucilli late in the inning as a hit and three walks produced the Eagles' second run. Tannucilli, despite the minor setback, was not denied his spotlight as over the next two innings he retired six of the next eight batters he faced along with adding two additional strikeouts to his one in the first inning of work putting himself at the century mark. The senior ended up tallying the first save of his career, as well.

In the bottom of the sixth, senior outfielder Justin Wiltsey (Hamilton Township, N.J./Hamilton West) added on two more runs to make the score 9-2, with a two RBI single. Then, in the bottom of the seventh with an agreed upon 10-run mercy rule in effect, Voss came to the plate one last time with Hernandez and Allo on second and third after back to back hits. In dramatic fashion, the program's all-time home run and RBI leader drilled a loud three run home run to right field to end the game. A fitting way to put a cap on Voss' career with the Green and Gold as the home run was his sixth of the season and 23rd of his career, sealing a 12-2 victory for NJCU in seven innings.

Highlights:
- Not only did Voss close out his career with a blast, but he also found himself just a triple shy of the cycle, as he yet again produced a three-hit game ending the season with a remarkable .408 average and 44 RBI, one shy of matching his career high.
- With his two hit performance and double in the seventh, Hernandez closes out his sensational 2023 season with a remarkable .383 average, with 33 of his 62 hits being for extra bases.
- Additionally for Hernandez, he holds a statistic not many have held in their career as over the two year stretch, he's scored 88 runs in just 78 games. He also tallied 105 career hits over the two years with NJCU.
- Today's game saw two firsts for seniors as Tannucilli closed out the game earning his first career save, while Wallraff, who relieved Sanchez in the second, tallied his first career win with the Green and Gold.

Up Next:
With the victory baseball has wrapped up its 2023 campaign. While the season had many ups and downs, the offense was a consistent key to the team's success this season. Head Coach Jerry Smith and associate head coach Nick Cesare will have a lot of preparation for the upcoming 2024 campaign needing to plug in the pieces to fill the void of the 11 graduates. The biggest pieces of the puzzle come from both Hernandez and Voss in the outfield, as both players provided remarkable power numbers along with the capability of hitting for high average.

Youth and development will be the center focus as freshmen such as Yarson and infielders Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) and Adrian Contreras (Union City, N.J./Union City) had spectacular starts in their first campaigns. Sophomores such as outfielder John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) and catcher Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) also bring some consistency into their junior season with solid production at the plate in 2023. NJCU also projects to bring back two seniors from this year's roster, outfielder Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) and pitcher Berto Reyes (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), as they will play a crucial leadership role along with the upcoming senior core of first baseman D.J. Dekis (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan), Allo, catcher Ricky Tuero (West New York, N.J./Memorial), infielder Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) and infielder Ali Pompey (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic)