NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey City University baseball team dropped the first game of its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) series against Rutgers–Newark, 9-3, on Thursday, April 2 at Weequahic Park.
The Gothic Knights move to 6-11-1 overall and 0-3 in NJAC play, while the Scarlet Raiders improve to 9-12 overall and 1-2 in conference action. Rutgers–Newark outhit NJCU, 11-8, in a contest that also featured two errors committed by each side.
Freshman Daniel Kapsch (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) led the Gothic Knights offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with a team-best two RBIs. Sophomore Collin Elam (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) also went 2-for-4 with a run scored, recording a triple and swiping two bases. Senior Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) added a double and scored once, while freshman Travis Evernham (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) reached base, scored a run, and stole a base.
Freshman Nick Chirelli (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) (3-1) started on the mound for NJCU, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing six hits and five earned runs while striking out a season-high five batters. Derek Bauernschmidt (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park), Yannid Narvaez (Cartago, Costa Rica/International Christian Academy), Dovid Solomon (Alon Shvut, Israel/Yeshiva Torah and Artzeinu), and Jeffrey Osbourne combined in relief.
Rutgers–Newark was paced by Trevor Wallace, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Joseph Bernardo turned in a 3-for-5 performance with two runs, and Daniel Fedorco added two runs scored as the Scarlet Raiders capitalized on key opportunities. Chase Ostrowski (1-0) earned the win, tossing five innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five.
The Scarlet Raiders struck first in the bottom of the second inning. After Chirelli recorded two quick outs via strikeout, Rutgers–Newark used a walk and consecutive singles to plate the opening run.
NJCU answered in the top of the third. Evernham worked a one-out walk, stole second, and advanced to third on an error before Kapsch delivered a two-out RBI single to center field, tying the game at 1-1. Rutgers–Newark responded in the bottom half, using two hits and a groundout to regain a 2-1 advantage.
The Gothic Knights pulled even again in the fifth inning. With two outs, Elam tripled to right field and scored on Kapsch's second RBI single of the afternoon, making it 2-2.
NJCU took its lone lead in the top of the sixth inning. Piacenza led off with a double down the left field line, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a wild pitch to give the Gothic Knights a 3-2 edge.
Rutgers–Newark responded in the bottom of the sixth with a decisive rally. Taking advantage of two NJCU errors, the Scarlet Raiders scored four runs in the frame to jump ahead 6-3. They added two more runs in the seventh inning on a pair of hits and a walk, and tacked on an insurance run in the eighth to extend the lead to 9-3.
The Scarlet Raiders' pitching staff limited NJCU down the stretch, holding the Gothic Knights hitless in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the ninth, Brendan Baeza recorded a pinch-hit single, but Rutgers–Newark sealed the victory with a double play and a groundout.
UP NEXT:
NJCU will return to action on Friday, April 3, hosting Rutgers–Newark in game two of the NJAC series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
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