GLASSBORO, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team team took on #19-ranked Rowan University on the road on Saturday, April 27, for a pair of New Jersey Athletic Confernce (NJAC) games. The Gothic Knights and Profs were closing out conference regular-season play on the day, but it was Rowan that ame out on top in both games.
Game one saw a final of 19-3, while NJCU (14-23, 7-11 NJAC) did manage 10 hits. Sophomore shortstop
Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) was 2-for-3 with a RBI. Freshman rightfielder
Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) was 1-for-2 with a walk, as was rookie first baseman brandon Piacenza, who also scored a run. Senior third baseman
Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) and sophomore pitcher
Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) were among those with one hit, as well, Fifth year centerfielder
Bryan Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) and junior catcher
Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) were each 1-for-3 at the plate, too.
After a scoreless first, the Gothic Knights took the game's first lead in the top of the second, 1-0, thanks to a couple of his and an error by Rowan (24-11, 10-8 NJAC). Piacenza led off with a one-out single and then Vaughn reached on an error in left. Two at-bat later, Lunar plated Piacenza with a single to make it 1-0. NJCU scored a couple in the top of the ninth, as well, as freshman
Justin Rodriguez (Metuchen, N.J./JFK Memorial) started things off with a one-out single. Rookie
Jordan Martins (Edison, N.J./Edison) followed with a base-hit, as well, before rookie
Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech) loaded the bases with a walk. Juiced bases followed by a RBI walk from senior DJ Dekis forced in a run and then again as freshman
Mike Novak (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) also drew a walk.
Game two was similar, with an 18-3 final, but Allo did go 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and a stolen base to extend his on-base streak to 13 in a row. Piacenza did not hit, but he did walk and also extended his on-base streak to 13 straight. Yarson only had a couple plate appearances, but was 1-for-1 with a double, a run and a walk and he pushed his massive streak to 19-straight games of getting on base, including an active 17-game hitting streak. Junior
John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) was 1-for-2 with a run after replacing Yarson later on in the game. Rookie leftfielder
Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J./Ranney) also went 1-for-2 with a double, while Vaugh was 1-for-2 with a RBI. Senior catcher
Ricky Tuero (West New York, N.J./Memorial) got a hit and a walk in his two plate appearances, scoring once, while Rodriguez was 1-for-2 with a RBI.
NJCU's offense came in the top of the fifth as Yarson walked with one out, followed by Beltra's double to put two runners in scoring position. Vaughn then slapped a single up the middle for the RBI. Again, the Gothic Knights scored a pair in the top of the ninth, as Abrahamsen led off with a one-out single. Tuero followed with a two-out walk to put two on before Rodriguez plated Abrahamsen with a single, followed by a RBI base-hit for pinch hitter junior
Jeff Castillo (Rahway, N.J./Rahway).
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to action for their season finale on Monday, April 29, which is Senior Day at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex against Saint Elizabeth University, with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
