CHAMBERSBURG, PA. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) baseball team erased a five-run deficit to earn a 9-9 tie against Wilson College on Sunday afternoon. The game was called after nine innings due to darkness.
NJCU moves to 1-1-1 on the season, totaling 12 hits with one error, while Wilson (0-5-1) finished with 11 hits and four errors.
Sophomore Frandi Yunior Masquea Mesa paced the Gothic Knights, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Sophomore Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech) added two hits and two RBIs, including a clutch double in the sixth inning to tie the game. Junior Johnovan Rodriguez (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) delivered in his lone at-bat, driving in two runs on a pinch-hit single. Sophomore Shawn Kish (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge) scored twice and contributed an RBI, while Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial), Dovid Solomon (Alon Shvut, Israel/Yeshiva Torah and Artzeinu), Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield), Jimmy Nichols (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan), Daniel Kapsch (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), and Travis Evernham (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) all factored into the scoring effort.
NJCU showcased aggressive baserunning throughout, with Masquea Mesa and graduate student Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) swiping two bases apiece and sophomore Brendan Baeza adding another. Ricourt, Kapsch, Masquea Mesa, and Gelok each recorded doubles. Kish added a sacrifice hit, and Kapsch chipped in a sacrifice fly.
On the mound, freshman Nick Chirelli (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) started and threw 4.2 innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out three. Derek Bauernschmidt (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) followed with 2.2 innings of relief. Collin Elam (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) closed the final 1.2 innings in dominant fashion, striking out three and allowing no hits to keep the Knights within striking distance.
Wilson jumped out early, capitalizing on walks, a hit-by-pitch, and timely hitting to build a 5-0 lead after the first inning and extend it to 9-4 through four.
The Knights began chipping away in the second. Kish singled and later scored on a base hit by Evernham. Gelok followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-2. NJCU added two more in the third, highlighted by Kapsch's sacrifice fly and a run-scoring sacrifice from Kish, trimming the lead to 5-4.
After Wilson extended its advantage in the fourth, NJCU responded again in the fifth. Masquea Mesa walked, stole second, and scored on a double by Ricourt. Solomon later reached on an error that plated another run, making it 9-6.
The decisive rally came in the sixth. Kish walked and moved to third on a double by Masquea Mesa. Rodriguez delivered a pinch-hit single to center, scoring two runs and pulling NJCU within one. Moments later, Nichols crossed the plate on Gelok's RBI double to tie the game at 9-9.
Both teams were held scoreless over the final three innings. NJCU and Wilson each threatened in the ninth, but neither side could push across the go-ahead run before the game was halted due to darkness.
UP NEXT:
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, March 4, when the Gothic Knights face the University of Mount Saint Vincent at 3:30 p.m. in Throggs Neck, N.Y., at SUNY Maritime's field.
For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University Athletics, visit NJCUGothicKnights.com and follow the Gothic Knights on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
