READING, PA. — The New Jersey City University baseball team dropped a 17–5 non-conference decision to Alvernia University on Tuesday afternoon at Angelica Park.
NJCU falls to 6-10-1 overall on the season, while Alvernia improves to 10-12. The Gothic Knights were narrowly outhit, 13-11, but defensive miscues proved costly as NJCU committed three errors compared to just one by the Golden Wolves.
Freshman
Matthew Ferber (South Brunswick, N.J./Saint Joseph Metuchen) highlighted the NJCU offense with his first collegiate home run, finishing with a team-best two RBIs and one run scored. Fellow freshmen
Daniel Kapsch (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) and
Nicholas Diadema (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) each produced multi-hit performances, tallying two hits apiece with an RBI. Kapsch also scored once, while Diadema crossed the plate twice.
The Gothic Knights showed extra-base power throughout the lineup, collecting four doubles from
Evan Hill (Southampton, N.J./Seneca),
Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield),
Mike Novak (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial), and Diadema. NJCU was also aggressive on the basepaths, as Colin Elam, Kapsch,
Shawn Kish (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge), and
Travis Evernham (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) each recorded stolen bases, with Evernham swiping a team-high two. Hill and
Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) added RBIs, while Elam, Novak, and
CJ Banos (Somerville, N.J./Somerville) accounted for additional runs scored.
On the mound,
Yannid Narvaez (Cartago, Costa Rica/International Christian Academy) (0-2) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on two hits over the first two innings while striking out a pair. NJCU utilized six relievers in the contest—
Brandon Fernandez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial),
Dovid Solomon (Alon Shvut, Israel/Yeshiva Torah and Artzeinu), Jeffrey Osbourne,
Justin Foy (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy),
Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech), and
Joseph Loesner (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus)—as they worked to contain the Alvernia offense.
Alvernia was paced offensively by Bobby Hansen, who drove in four runs and scored twice on a 2-for-4 performance. Max Hansen contributed three hits in five at-bats with an RBI and a run scored, while Timmy Hitchcock crossed the plate a game-high three times.
Tyler Weil-Kaspar (3-1) earned the win for Alvernia, delivering a strong outing of 6.2 innings. He allowed four runs—two earned—on seven hits while striking out seven.
Alvernia struck first, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning behind a hit-by-pitch and a pair of singles. NJCU answered in the third inning when Elam drew a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a Kapsch single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Vaughn to trim the deficit to 2-1.
The Golden Wolves broke the game open in the middle innings. A combination of hits, errors, and hit batters fueled a five-run third inning, followed by another five-run outburst in the fourth to extend the lead to 12-1. Alvernia added two more runs in the sixth to push the margin to 14-1.
NJCU responded in the seventh inning, capitalizing on three hits and an error. Banos reached on a fielding error and advanced to third on Diadema's double before scoring on a balk. Kapsch followed with an RBI single, and later in the frame, Ferber delivered a two-run home run to left field to make it 14-5.
The Gothic Knights continued to battle in the eighth inning. Novak led off with a double, and Diadema later singled him home before advancing to second on the throw. Hill then lined a double down the right field line to score Diadema, cutting the deficit to 14-7.
Alvernia added its final run late with a home run in the eighth, before closing out the game.
UP NEXT:
NJCU returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Thursday, April 2, traveling to Rutgers-Newark for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.
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.
