CAMDEN, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team closed out its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule on Sunday with a pair of losses to Rutgers–Camden at the Camden Athletic Complex, falling 7-4 in the opener and 10-7 in game two.
In game one, NJCU (10-25-1, 2-14 NJAC) managed just five hits while Rutgers–Camden (17-21, 9-8 NJAC) totaled 13. Despite the disparity, the Gothic Knights remained within striking distance late, aided by three Scarlet Raptor errors. NJCU also added four stolen bases, pushing its season total to 124 and setting a new program single-season record, surpassing the previous mark of 120 set in 2025.
Daniel Kapsch (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) drove in three runs to lead NJCU, finishing 1-for-4 with his fifth double of the season. Travis Evernham (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) added an RBI, while Collin Elam (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) scored twice. Frandi Yunior Mosquea Mesa (Dominican Republic/Maple Mountain UT) and Jeremy Ricourt (Perth Amboy, N.J./JFK Memorial) also crossed the plate for the Gothic Knights.
Rutgers–Camden built a commanding lead early, scoring twice in the first inning and adding four more in the second to take a 6-0 advantage. NJCU chipped away, beginning in the third when Elam came around to score on a pair of groundouts. Mosquea Mesa scored in similar fashion in the fourth to make it 6-2.
The Gothic Knights closed the gap in the seventh inning. After Elam reached and stole third, Kapsch delivered a two-run double to right-center field, bringing NJCU within 6-4. However, Rutgers–Camden added an insurance run in the eighth and held NJCU scoreless the rest of the way.
Andre Dean (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) (2-5) went 7.2 innings in the loss, allowing 12 hits and six earned runs while striking out two. Anthony Angelo (2-2) earned the win for Rutgers–Camden, tossing eight innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with six strikeouts.
In the second game, NJCU's offense came alive with a season-high 16 hits, but the Gothic Knights were unable to hold off a late Rutgers–Camden rally. NJCU (10-26-1, 2-15 NJAC) received multi-hit performances from six players, including a standout effort from Matthew Ferber (South Brunswick, N.J./Saint Joseph Metuchen), who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Elam also drove in three runs, finishing 3-for-5 with a double.
Mosquea Mesa added a triple and scored twice, while Kapsch, Ray Gelok (Clifton, N.J./Passaic Tech) and Evernham each recorded multiple hits. Brandon Piacenza (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) contributed a stolen base as NJCU continued its aggressive play on the basepaths.
After three scoreless innings, NJCU struck first in the fourth. Mosquea Mesa tripled and scored on Ferber's single, and Ferber later came home on Elam's hit coupled with a throwing error to give the Gothic Knights a 2-0 lead.
Rutgers–Camden responded with three runs in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead, but NJCU answered again in the sixth. Gelok singled to start the inning, and after Ferber walked and Evernham reached on a bunt single, Gelok scored on a fielder's choice. Elam followed with an RBI single to put NJCU back in front, 4-3.
The Scarlet Raptors surged ahead in the seventh, capitalizing on two hits and an error to score four runs and take a 7-4 lead. NJCU quickly responded in the bottom half, stringing together four consecutive singles from Piacenza, Mosquea Mesa, Gelok and Ferber to cut the deficit to one. With two outs, Elam delivered a clutch two-run double to tie the game at 7-7.
Rutgers–Camden regained control in the ninth inning, scoring three runs on three hits. NJCU was unable to respond in its final at-bat, as the Scarlet Raptors secured the sweep.
Phil Kramer (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) started for NJCU and worked six innings, allowing four earned runs (seven total) on nine hits while striking out three. Nick Chirelli (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) (3-6) took the loss in relief, giving up three earned runs over the final three innings. Sean Glenn (1-0) earned the win for Rutgers–Camden with 2.1 innings of one-hit relief.
UP NEXT:
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, April 29, when it hosts Saint Elizabeth University in non-conference play at 4 p.m. at FDU-Teaneck.
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.
