LEXINGTON, Ky. — The New Jersey City University baseball squad played its third game in three days this evening, Thursday, March 14, at Legends Stadium against Transylvania University. The Gothic Knights are now three games into their five-game stretch in Kentucky. NJCU took the early lead against the Pioneers, once again, but then trailed for the latter innings. The Green and Gold tried to mount a comeback late in the game, putting up a four-run top of the ninth, but ultimately suffered the 9-5 loss to Transy.
The Gothic Knights (2-4) started off as strong as you can thanks to rookie second baseman
Jeremy Ricourt's (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) leadoff homer in the game's first at-bat — the first round-tripper of the freshman's collegiate career. Senior righthander
Ali Pompey (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) made his second start of the season for NJCU and also got off to an efficient start, working around a two-out walk to maintain the 1-0 lead through one inning against the Pioneers (10-2). He then made his way through the bottom of the second, allowing two walks but keeping it a one-run ballgame.
The Green and Gold made a push in the top of the third as sophomore shortstop
Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) reached first with a one-out single and then Ricourt walked to put two men on. They later combined for a double steal to move two into scoring position with two outs. However, NJCU was unable to push them home. Pompey continued his strong start by working through the third and fourth innings without allowing a hit or a run. Unfortunately, Transy finally got to the Trenton Catholic product in the bottom of the fourth for four runs, putting the home team up 4-1.
The Pioneers put up five more runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a grand slam, to make it a 9-1 game. Rookie righthander
Derek Bauernschmidt (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) made his collegiate debut after that four-run shot. He started off a little shakey, allowing back-to-back hits, but then got the next two batters out with an infield fly and a strikeout to end the inning without any further offense for Transy. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, the freshman pitcher worked around a leadoff double and subsequent walk, getting the next three batters out to keep things moving.
NJCU's offense came alive in the top of the ninth. Sophomore designated hitter
Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) extended his hitting streak to four with a leadoff single and then senior third baseman
Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) followed with a one-out walk to put two on. Senior catcher
Ricky Tuero (West New York, N.J./Memorial) followed suit by drawing a walk of his own to juice the bases. Freshman second baseman
Jordan Martins (Edison, N.J./Edison) grounded out to short next, but Yarson came around to score for the inning's first run. Senior shortstop
Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) walked in the next at-bat to load the bases once again and the second wild pitch in a matter of moments allowed Tuero to score. Junior rightfielder
Justin Anthony (East Orange, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep), in just the second at-bat of his career, knocked in a one-run single and then Martins came home to score on a throwing error at third to make it 9-5. NJCU would eventually load the bases one more time as freshman first baseman
Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J./Ranney) drew the free bag, but the Gothic Knights were unable to produce any more runs as the game came to a close.
Highlights:
- Ricourt finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, a RBI and a run scored.
- Fifth year outfielder
Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) was 1-for-4 with a double, while Allo was 0-for-2 but had a couple of walks.
- Pompey finished with 4.1 innings on the mound, allowing four earned with one strikeout, while Bauernschmidt tossed 1.2 innings with no earned and one strikeout.
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to Legends Stadium for their penultimate game in the Bluegrass State tomorrow, Friday, March 15, for a 2:00 p.m. clash with the Pioneers.
