JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team hosted #17/18-ranked Montclair State University on Friday, April 19, in the second game of a back-to-back between the two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) programs. NJCU got ahead early at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex, but ultimately fell to the Red Hawks, 12-5, to split the regular-season series.

Montclair (25-8, 7-5 NJAC) went ahead early with a leadoff home run, but rookie righthander Yannid Narvaez (Cartago La Union, Costa Rica/International Christian Academy) settled down after that. Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first, NJCU (11-18, 5-7 NJAC) saw rookie outfielder Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) lead off with a walk. Following a dropped foul ball, senior third baseman Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) put runners on the corners with a one-out single. Two at-bats later, fifth year outfielder Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) put the Gothic Knights ahead, 2-1, with a two-run single to the gap in right. Sophomore designated hitter Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) tacked on another run with a single in the next at-bat for the 3-1 lead.

Unfortunately, the Red Hawks put up five runs in the second to take a 6-3 lead. The visitors again scored a pair in the top of the fourth to go up 8-3. The fifth and sixth were scoreless before Montclair scored two in the seventh and eighth innings to make it 12-3.

The Green and Gold got a couple back in the bottom of the ninth as they tried to mount a late comeback. Allo led off with a walk before moving over to second on a groundout. Yarson reached via a free base two at-bats later with two outs. Senior catcher Ricky Tuero (West New York, N.J./Memorial) loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch and then rookie second baseman Justin Rodriguez (Metuchen, N.J./JFK Memorial) forced in a run with a RBI walk. Rookie shortstop Jordan Martins (Edison, N.J./Edison) did the same in the next at-bat, making it 12-5 before the final out was secured.

Highlights:
- Allso was 1-for-3 with two runs and a walk.
- Fernandez was 1-for-4 with a run and two RBI.
- Yarson was 1-for-3 with a RBI and a walk.
- Senior D.J. Dekis (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) ate up 3.0 innings in relief, tossing the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, allowing two earned on two hits.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action back at the Gerrity tomorrow morning, April 20, for a NJAC doubleheader against Stockton University, with game one scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. first pitch. The Ospreys sit atop the conference standings with a 9-3 mark, while the Gothic Knights are currently eighth, battling for a playoff spot with several other teams.