JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) baseball team earned its first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) victory of the season on Saturday, April 11, splitting a doubleheader against Stockton University at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The Gothic Knights secured a 6-1 win in the opener behind a dominant complete-game performance from senior Andre Dean (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) before the Ospreys responded with a 7-4 victory in game two.
In the first game, NJCU (8-17-1, 1-8 NJAC) delivered a well-rounded performance, outhitting Stockton (6-20, 2-7 NJAC) by a 9-7 margin while capitalizing on timely hitting and a key defensive miscue. Dean (2-3) set the tone on the mound, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on seven hits and striking out seven to earn the Gothic Knights' first conference win of the year. Offensively, Daniel Kapsch (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) led the charge with two RBIs and a run scored, while Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) and Shawn Kish (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge) each posted multi-hit efforts, going 2-for-4. Contributions came throughout the lineup, as Collin Elam (Ewing, N.J./Ewing), Travis Evernham (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan), and Ricourt each drove in runs, and six different players crossed the plate for NJCU.
After a scoreless start through four innings, the Gothic Knights broke through in the fifth inning. Ricourt and Kish delivered back-to-back singles before advancing into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. With the bases loaded, Elam brought home the game's first run on a fielder's choice, and a Stockton error allowed a second run to score for a 2-0 advantage. NJCU continued to build momentum in the sixth, as Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) singled and later scored on Kish's two-out double to center field.
The decisive rally came in the seventh inning, when NJCU plated three runs to extend its lead to 6-0. Nick Vaughn (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) sparked the inning with a leadoff double and later stole third base, while Elam reached on a dropped third strike. Following a sacrifice bunt, Kapsch delivered a clutch two-run single to right field. Moments later, Ricourt singled to bring home Kapsch, capping the scoring surge. Stockton managed its lone run in the eighth inning, but Dean closed the door in the ninth, allowing just one hit and striking out two to seal the victory.
Stockton bounced back in game two, using an 11-hit offensive performance to earn a split. The Ospreys jumped out early, scoring one run in the first inning before erupting for three more in the second to take a 4-0 lead. NJCU responded in the bottom half of the second, showing resilience by rallying for three runs. After Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech) walked and Vaughn singled, Evernham drove in the first run with a groundout. Frandi Mosquea Mesa followed with a two-out, two-run single to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Gothic Knights evened the score in the fourth inning, capitalizing on patience at the plate as three walks loaded the bases. Kapsch delivered a productive fielder's choice to bring home Elam and tie the game at 4-4. However, Stockton regained control in the sixth inning, stringing together three hits—including a bases-loaded triple by Jimmy Casey—to score three runs and take a 7-4 lead they would not relinquish.
Mosquea Mesa led NJCU offensively in game two, recording the team's only multi-hit performance while driving in two runs. Elam scored twice, and Kapsch and Evernham each added an RBI. On the mound, Justin Foy (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy) started and struck out a season-high four batters in 1.1 innings, while Nick Chirelli (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) (3-3) took the loss in relief despite a solid 6.1-inning effort in which he allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three.
Stockton was powered by a standout performance from Casey, who went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and a run scored, including the pivotal bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning. Matthew McCloskey and Dom Vizzoni each scored twice as the Ospreys combined extra-base hits and timely execution to secure the win.
UP NEXT:
NJCU returns to action on Tuesday, April 14, when the Gothic Knights travel to face Stevens Institute of Technology in a non-conference matchup scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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