JERSEY CITY, N.J. – On Monday, April 28, the New Jersey City University (NJCU) baseball team honored six senior student-athletes before engaging in a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest against Saint Elizabeth University (SEU) at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. Despite a spirited late-game rally, the Gothic Knights came up short, falling to the visiting Eagles by a final score of 15–12. The loss drops NJCU to 12–26-1 on the season, while SEU improves to 16–22. Prior to first pitch, NJCU celebrated the careers of six seniors: John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township), Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech), Dom LaPelosa (Edison, N.J./Edison), Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic), Eriberto Reyes (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth), and Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township).

Saint Elizabeth wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a 2–0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a leadoff hit-by-pitch, followed by a triple and a run-scoring single. The Eagles continued to apply pressure in the second inning, adding two more runs on a triple and a solo home run, pushing their lead to 4–0. A fielding error and another RBI single in the third extended the advantage to 5–0. By the middle of the fourth, after a two-out rally resulted in two more SEU runs, the Eagles held a commanding 7–0 lead.

The Gothic Knights struggled offensively through the first three innings, failing to register a hit. However, senior John Abrahamsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) broke the drought in the fourth inning with a solo home run — his first long ball this season— putting NJCU on the board and igniting a momentum shift. SEU responded in the fifth with a walk and another home run, quickly restoring their eight-run cushion at 9–1. They extended the lead to double digits in the sixth, stringing together three singles to make it 11–1.

In the bottom of the sixth, NJCU began mounting a comeback. Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) started the rally with a double to left, followed by a single from Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield). Chris Rosario (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) then doubled to left-center to drive in both runners. Shawn Kish (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge) added a single, putting runners at the corners, and Arian Lunar (Caracas, Venezuela/Elizabeth) grounded out to score Rosario. Garrett Allo (Monroe, N.J./East Brunswick Tech) followed with an RBI double to left-center, cutting the deficit to 11–5.

NJCU continued their surge in the seventh. Abrahamsen singled and advanced to third on Yarson's infield hit. Piacenza lofted a sacrifice fly to bring Abrahamsen home, trimming the SEU lead to 11–6. However, the Eagles struck back in the eighth, plating four more runs on four hits to push the lead to 15–6, effectively halting NJCU's momentum.

Refusing to go quietly, the Gothic Knights staged a final rally in the ninth inning. Allo led off with a walk and proceeded to steal both second and third base before scoring on Abrahamsen's RBI single, which also brought home Moreno following a defensive miscue. Abrahamsen stole third and scored again on Yarson's base hit, narrowing the score to 15–9. Piacenza added another single, and after Rosario walked to load the bases, Lunar drew a walk to force in a run. Allo then came through with a clutch two-run single, scoring Rosario and Piacenza to make it 15–12. With the tying run at the plate, SEU turned to its bullpen and managed to record the final out via strikeout to end the Gothic Knights' comeback bid.

Offensively, Abrahamsen led NJCU with a career-best performance, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored, including the team's lone home run. Allo was also productive at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, a run scored, a double, and two stolen bases. Yarson was a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI, two runs scored, and a career-high four stolen bases. Rosario contributed a double, two RBI, and two runs scored, while Piacenza added an RBI and two runs of his own.

On the mound, senior Eriberto Reyes (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) made his first start of the season, tossing 3.2 innings and striking out three batters. He was followed by five relievers — Danny Olear (Cranford, N.J./Cranford), Will McChesney (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), Ricky Del Rio (Edison, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas), Yannid Narvaez (Cartago La Union, Costa Rica/International Christian Academy), and Derek Bauernschmidt (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) — who collectively allowed nine hits and struck out five.

For the Eagles, Anthony Rossomando paced the offense with a 2-for-5 line, three RBI, a home run, and one run scored. Ryan Deal also homered, finishing 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs. SEU starter Quentin Torres earned the win after a solid 5.0-inning outing, surrendering just one hit while striking out three.

Statistically, SEU held the edge in most offensive categories, including runs (15–12), hits (18–10), extra-base hits (8–4), and RBI (15–12). NJCU had the advantage in plate discipline and baserunning, drawing more walks (7–5), recording fewer strikeouts (6–8), and stealing a 10 bases — the third time this year the Gothic Knights have reached double digits in that category.

Up Next:
NJCU will close out the 2025 season on Wednesday, April 30, traveling to face Saint Elizabeth University once again — this time at Raritan Valley Community College. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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