JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) baseball team was defeated 17-14 by Purchase College in a non-conference game on Wednesday, April 2, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The game was called after the seventh inning due to darkness, but not before the Gothic Knights (9-10-1) were outslugged by the Panthers (8-13). Despite a late-game rally and some impressive individual performances, NJCU could not hold onto an early lead and ultimately dropped the game.

The Gothic Knights' offense was potent throughout the game, with several players contributing to the team's 14 runs. Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) had a standout performance, finishing 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored, along with two stolen bases. His home run in the second inning briefly gave NJCU a 5-4 lead, his fourth of the season. Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) also had a solid day, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, and a sacrifice fly. Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) added to the offensive output with one hit, three RBIs, a season-high three walks, and a run scored. Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) chipped in with two RBIs, two runs, and a season-high two walks. The offense didn't stop there, as Arian Lunar (Caracas, Venezuela/Elizabeth), Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic), and Marco Cundari (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) each contributed an RBI and crossed the plate at least once. Moreno also showed his speed, scoring twice and stealing a base.

However, despite their offensive firepower, the Gothic Knights were plagued by defensive lapses and pitching struggles. NJCU committed three errors in the game, which allowed Purchase to capitalize on several opportunities. The team's pitching staff also had difficulty limiting the Panthers' offensive attack. Will McChesney (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) started on the mound but was pulled after 1.2 innings, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out two batters. Danny Olear (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) followed McChesney, throwing just 0.1 innings and issuing one walk. Ricky Del Rio (Edison, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas) provided 2.0 innings of relief, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out a career-high four batters. Chris Rosario (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) struggled in his outing, allowing four runs in 1.0 inning of work, while Jeffrey Osborne (Spotswood, N.J./Spotswood) allowed one run and struck out his first batter of the season in 0.1 innings. Collin Elam (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits over 2.0 innings.

For Purchase, the offense was led by Patrick Reyes, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, six RBIs, and two runs scored. Joe Salerno also contributed with a grand slam, his only at-bat of the game, which was a pivotal moment in narrowing the deficit. Mason Compton reached base multiple times, scoring six runs and stealing two bases. Other contributors included Liam Daly, who drove in two runs, and Marc Castillo, who added a double. On the mound, the Panthers used a committee of pitchers to slow down NJCU's offense. Myles Scarry started the game and allowed four runs in 1.0 inning, while Michael Silverstein and Kyan Zamaniyan combined for 2.2 innings of relief. Colin D'Onofrio, who earned the win, pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. Justin Lorenzo closed the game by striking out one batter in the final inning.

The game was marked by offensive surges, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. NJCU came out strong in the early innings, building a 13-4 lead by the end of the third inning. The Green and Gold's big inning came in the third when they scored nine runs, highlighted by timely hits, walks, and aggressive baserunning. However, Purchase gradually chipped away at the lead, aided by some key hits and a few defensive miscues by NJCU. The Panthers cut the deficit to 13-11 in the fifth inning and took the lead in the sixth with four more hits, ultimately going up 14-13. In the seventh, Purchase added three more runs to extend their lead to 17-13.

NJCU attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, as Moreno and Yarson both walked to put runners in scoring position. Allo's deep single to shortstop scored Moreno to make it 17-14, but the Panthers were able to close out the game with a flyout to right field, securing the victory.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knight return to NJAC action tomorrow, April 3, as they head to Kean for a 3:30 p.m. game.

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