NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team picked up a huge road victory today, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) clash with neighboring Rutgers-Newark. Pompey gave up just two earned in his start, and the squad put up eight on the Scarlet Raiders pitchers on Thursday afternoon, April 11. NJCU defeated Rutgers-Newark 8-3 at Weequahic Park.
Jersey City (7-15, 2-5 NJAC) had two runners on via walk and hit-by-pitch in the top of the first, but a double play ended the inning before the Gothic Knights could plate a run. Senior right-hander
Ali Pompey (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) got the start against the Scarlet Raiders (15-12, 0-7 NJAC), and gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the inning when a passed ball allowed a runner from third to come across.
After a scoreless second, freshman center fielder
Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech) led off the inning with a walk, and freshman left fielder
Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech) singled up the middle to lead off the third. A Scarlet Raider error loaded the bases, and senior third baseman
Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) took advantage by sending a ball to right, scoring Gelok. After the following two batters were retired, Sophomore shortstop
Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) hit a groundrule double, scoring freshman first baseman
Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) and Ricourt. Allo also went from first to third on the Lunar double, and scored when a wild pitch got away from Rutgers-Newark.
Pompey picked up two strikeouts in the bottom of the third after allowing the first two batters to reach, and he received more run support in the fourth after the Green and Gold brought home two more. Senior second baseman
Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) and Gelok hit back-to-back singles to center, and Ricourt then doubled to center to score both Moreno and Gelok. Pompey pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, picking up two more strikeouts.
The Scarlet Raptors were also held scoreless in the fifth and sixth, with Pompey allowing just one runner to get into scoring position. In the bottom of the seventh, Pompey gave up a leadoff double and walk before head coach
Jerry Smith went to the bullpen. Two runs were walked in, those belonging to Pompey, and getting Rutgers-Newark within four runs.
In the top of the ninth, Allo and freshman catcher
Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J./Ranney) both reached base with one out. A throwing error scored Allo, giving the Gothic Knights an 8-3 lead. Freshman pitcher
Ricky Del Rio (Edison, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas), who pitched a scoreless eighth, did allow runners to get to second and third, but got a ground ball to Moreno to put the game away and get NJCU back in the NJAC win column.
Highlights:
- Ricourt went 2-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
- Gelok reached base safely in all four plate appearances (2-2, two walks); also had two runs scored.
- Pompey went 6+ with just two earned runs, gave up just five hits, and had six strikeouts.
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to Weequahic Park to face Rutgers-Newark tomorrow, Friday, April 12, at 4:00 p.m. Due to Thursday's rain, the game's location was moved to Rutgers-Newark's home field, but NJCU will serve as the home team.
