MADISON, N.J. - On Thursday, March 27, the New Jersey City University (NJCU) baseball team suffered a hard-fought 15-11 loss to Drew University at Lonnstrom Stadium. Despite an impressive late-game rally that saw the Gothic Knights score six runs in the final inning, they were unable to overcome a strong offensive performance by the Drew Rangers. The Rangers, now 10-10 on the season, out-hit NJCU 17-10 and capitalized on the Gothic Knights' pitching struggles. The teams were even in terms of errors, with each committing four.

Drew's offensive onslaught was led by Zack Maxwell, who had an outstanding game, going 3-for-6 with three RBIs, including a triple. Other key contributors included Frank Master (2-3), Will Fritch (2-4), and Mike Gallaro (2-3), who each drove in two RBIs. Gallaro also added a homerun to his stat line, and Master chipped in with a double and a stolen base. Drew's starter, Kenny Yonker (1-2), earned the win after pitching 6.0 innings, giving up five runs on six hits while striking out one. After Yonker's departure, relievers Breckyn DeAngelis and Dominic Goodenough helped preserve the lead, allowing only one hit in a combined 4.0 innings of work, though Goodenough did give up five runs in the eighth inning, making the final frame interesting.

The Gothic Knights, now 9-7-1 on the season, were led by two of their most consistent hitters—Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) and Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield). Allo had a standout performance, going 2-for-3 with a homerun, four runs scored, and three RBIs. His three-run homerun in the final inning highlighted NJCU's late comeback attempt, bringing the score to 15-11. Piacenza also had a solid game, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs, including a homerun. Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) contributed offensively as well, finishing 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a sacrifice fly. Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) also had an impactful game, hitting a double, recording an RBI, and scoring a run.

On the mound, Will McChesney (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) (1-3) started the game, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing three runs on two hits, while striking out one. The bullpen also had its struggles, with Danny Olear (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) allowing two runs on three hits in his 1.0 inning of work. Ricky Del Rio (Edison, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas) pitched the fourth inning, giving up two runs on three hits. Dom LaPelosa (Edison, N.J./Edison) entered in relief, throwing 2.2 innings, striking out three batters, but allowing five runs on eight hits. Eriberto Reyes (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) (0.1 innings) faced just one batter before being relieved by Shawn Kish (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge), who made his debut on the mound and allowed one hit and three runs. Evan Freid (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfied) closed out the game, facing just two batters without allowing any runs.

The game got off to a competitive start. NJCU struck first in the top of the first inning, despite two outs. Allo walked and advanced to second base on a throwing error, and Piacenza followed with a single through the left side to give the Gothic Knights a 1-0 lead. However, Drew quickly answered in the bottom half of the first inning. A walk, single, and a balk allowed Drew to tie the game at 1-1, and they took the lead with another single to center field, making it 2-1. Drew's offense continued to roll in the second and third innings, tacking on three more runs, including an unearned run, to extend their lead to 5-1.

In the fourth inning, NJCU mounted a response, as Allo walked again and Piacenza hit a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 5-3. However, Drew answered with two more runs in the bottom of the inning, extending their lead to 7-3. The Rangers didn't stop there, adding another run in the fifth inning to make it 8-3. Despite these setbacks, NJCU continued to battle. In the top of the sixth inning, Allo singled up the middle and advanced to second on a single by Piacenza. Enrique Beltra (Monroe, N.J./Ranney) came up clutch, driving in Allo with a single to center field, bringing the score to 8-4. Yarson then hit a sacrifice fly to score Piacenza, narrowing the gap to 8-5.

Drew took control of the game in the sixth inning, adding four more runs on five hits to extend their lead to 12-5. The Rangers' offense continued to dominate, and by the eighth inning, they tacked on another three runs, pushing the score to 15-5.

In a dramatic last-ditch effort, NJCU mounted a six-run rally in the ninth. It started when Beltra reached base on a fielding error, and pinch runner Mike Novak (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) advanced to second on a wild pitch. Novak later scored on a double by Yarson, bringing the score to 15-6. Pinch runner Brendan Baeza replaced Yarson, advancing to third on another wild pitch. With runners on the corners, Freid walked, a groundout scored Baeza. Marco Cundari (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) was hit by a pitch, and Ricourt then doubled down the left field line to score Freid and move Cundari to third. With two outs, Allo belted a three-run homer to left field, driving in Cundari, Ricourt, and himself, bringing the final score to 15-11.

UP NEXT:
NJCU begins New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play on Saturday, March 29, with a doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

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