JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team hosted a pair at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex on Saturday, April 6, against the Ramapo Roadrunners. NJCU fell just short after a costly error in the top of the ninth during game one, and were unable to match the Ramapo scoring in game two. 

Game 1: Ramapo 4, NJCU 3
Junior righthander Andre Dean (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) got the start for Jersey City (6-13, 1-3 NJAC), and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first. In the home half, the Gothic Knights offense got Dean an early lead. Freshman first baseman Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) walked and got to second on a wild pitch, and senior third baseman Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) doubled, moving Piacenza to third. Freshman left fielder Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J./Ranney) grounded out to short, but brought home Piacenza, giving NJCU an early 1-0 over Ramapo (15-8, 3-1 NJAC). 

Ramapo got two runs back in the top of the second after a throwing error on a steal attempt got into the outfield, and another on a ground ball to third. Sophomore shortshop Arian Lunar (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) led off the bottom of the third with a double to right-center, and got to third on a groundout, but was stranded to end the inning. Ramapo added an insurance run after three consecutive singles in the fourth, leading 3-1. The score remained 3-1 as Dean continued to deal for the Gothic Knights, finishing seven innings with just one earned run. In the NJCU half of the seventh, junior catcher Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) hit a one-out ground rule double to left field, and senior John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township), who entered as a pinch-hitter, singled to right field and moved Vaughn to third. Freshman outfielder Justin Anthony (East Orange, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) came in to pinch run for Abrahamsen, and stole second. The Green and Gold tied the game up at 3 when Lunar singled to left, bringing Vaughn and Anthony home.

Dean took the Roadrunners down in order in the top of the eighth, and the Gothic Knights had one batter reach base on a walk but did not score. Headed to the ninth, the squads remained tied 3-3. In the top of the ninth, the leadoff batter reached on a dropped fly ball. Another reached on a walk, and a double steal put two runners in scoring position with one down. A slow chopper to Allo at third did not allow him to make a throw to the plate, resulting in a RBI fielder's choice and putting the Roadrunners back in front. Needing a run to force extras or two to win it, NJCU went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

Game 2: Ramapo 9, NJCU 3
Yarson was on the bump for the Gothic Knights in game two, looking to redeem himself for the blunder in the top of the ninth. He got two quick outs, but then allowed a double and a single to the following batters and Ramapo grabbed an early lead. The wind, which was definitely a factor for outfielders during game one, also howled for game two. The leadoff batter in the second for Ramapo hit a high pop up in the infield, which ending up landing in between multiple Gothic Knights for a rare infield double. Yarson retired the next two batters, but a single brought home the Roadrunner baserunner.

Yarson pitched the next three scoreless, but NJCU was unable to cut into the lead headed to the sixth. The Ramapo leadoff hitter reached on a fielding error, and scored when the following batter doubled. Another fielding error put runners on the corner, and then a wild pitch gave Ramapo second and third, all with no one out. The Roadrunners continued to take advantage of the Gothic Knight errors, scoring two more on a double down the left field line. Head coach Jerry Smith went to the bullpen, bring in freshman righthander Danny Olear (Cranford, N.J./Cranford). Olear's first batter bunted and reached, putting runners on the corners. Another base hit brought home the runner from third and gave Ramapo a 6-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the seventh, junior D.J. Dekis (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) pinch hit, drawing a walk with one out. Freshman outfielder Mike Novak (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) pinch hit after Dekis, and singled to center. With Dekis in scoring position, freshman outfielder Justin Anthony (East Orange, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) took his place on second. An error by the Ramapo right fielder allowed Anthony to score and the Gothic Knights to get on the board. The score remained at 6-2 until the top of the ninth, when Ramapo added three more. Piacenza led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk. He then got to third after stealing second and advancing on an error on the throw. Allo brought Piacenza to make it 9-3, but that's where the game would end.

Highlights:
- Lunar went 4-8 overall with 2 RBIs.
- Dean pitched all nine in game one, giving up just one earned run.

Up Next: 
The Gothic Knights will take a short break from NJAC action, as they travel to Patchogue, N.Y. on Tuesday, April 9th, to play a doubleheader against St. Joe's-Long Island. The doubleheader will consist of seven-inning games, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 4:00 p.m.