JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Following a 30-minute weather delay, the New Jersey City University baseball team returned home for a non-conference bout against John Jay College on Wednesday afternoon, April 24. Once the weather cleared up, the Gothic Knights got right to work, taking a 5-0 lead after the first inning, en-route to a 9-2 victory over the Bloodhounds.

Fifth year righthander Ronnie Wallraff (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) got the start on the bump for the Gothic Knights (13-20). In his third start of the season, he pitched a scoreless first inning despite a Bloodhounds (13-18) runner getting into scoring position. Senior third baseman hit a one-out triple into center in the home half, and scored after a John Jay error. Later, with the bases juiced, freshman first baseman Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) singled through the left side, scoring freshman leftfielder Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J./Ranney) who had reached via walk, and sophomore designated hitter Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing), who reached on the error earlier. The Gothic Knights continued to bat through the order, and sophomore shortstop Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) brought home another two runs with a single up the middle. After the first finally came to and end, the Green and Gold had themselves a 5-0 lead.

Wallraff continued to deal, picking up four strikeouts through five scoreless innings. NJCU used more John Jay blunders to their advantage in the bottom of the fifth, as Yarson reached on another error, stole second, and advanced to third after the John Jay catcher's throw made its way into center. Beltra then hit a sacrifice fly into center, easily scoring Yarson and extending the lead to 6-0.

The Bloodhounds were able to get on the board in the following inning, after four hit-by-pitches, a single, and a sacrifice bunt brought two runs in. Freshman righthander Yannid Narvaez (Cartago La Union, Costa Rica/International Christian Academy) picked up two strikeouts in the seventh after replacing freshman righty Danny Olear (Cranford, N.J./Cranford), who came in to record the last out in the sixth. Beltra was plunked to lead off the bottom of the seventh, and stole second. Piacenza singled into center, and Beltra hustled home for the once again to give NJCU a five-run cushion. Narvaez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, and the Gothic Knights brought home another run in their half of the inning. Senior second baseman Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) walked, and Lunar singled to put runners at first and second. A double-steal put both runners in scoring position, and junior rightfielder John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township), who came for freshman Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial), brought home Moreno on a groundout. Lunar, who advanced to third on that play, scored after a failed pick off during the next at-bat, making the score 9-2. Senior righty D.J. Dekis (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) came in to pitch the ninth, and he closed the door on John Jay to finish off the game.

Highlights:
- Olear, Narvaez, and Dekis combined for 3.0 innings in relief, giving up just one hit without walking any batters, and struck out six.
- Piacenza continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs. 
- Lunar was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action tomorrow, April 25, as they start a home and home vs. William Paterson. Tomorrow's game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. in Wayne.