LEXINGTON, Ky. — The New Jersey City University baseball team closed out their Kentucky trip Saturday afternoon, Mar. 16, at Transylvania University. The Gothic Knights trailed early into the ballgame and were unable to get the bats going against the Pioneers, falling 11-1 in seven innings.

Rookie pitcher Ricky Del Rio (Edison, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas) got the start for Jersey City (2-6), and got through the first inning without allowing a hit to Transylvania (12-2). NJCU went down 1-2-3 in both the first and second innings, and Transy got on the board in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead. Junior catcher Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) got the first Gothic Knight hit of the afternoon but a subsequent strikeout and double play ended the inning. In the bottom of the third, the Pioneers scored tacked on three more runs with a homer.

In the top of the fourth, the Gothic Knights loaded the bases after freshman outfielder Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) hit an infield single, freshman outfielder Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J./Ranney) reached on a hit by pitch, and a single by sophomore designated hitter Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing). Senior infielder Ali Pompey (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) drove in Ricourt, cutting into the Pioneers lead 4-1.

Unfortunately for the Gothic Knights, the lead ballooned for Transy following the sole NJCU run in the top of the fourth. The Pioneers put up one run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, four in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to take an 11-1 lead. NJCU went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the ballgame. 

Highlights:
- Yarson, who went 1 for 3 this afternoon, extended his hitting streak to six games.
- Freshman Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech) made his first appearance on the mound this afternoon.

Up Next:
NJCU will head back to Jersey City before traveling to Yaphank, N.Y. to take on the Bearcats of Baruch College on Tuesday, Mar. 19. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.