Jersey City, NJ | New Jersey City University used seven runs in the final three innings of play to overturn a deficit, defeating the College of Staten Island on the baseball diamond this afternoon, 8-4, as part of non-conference play at Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The loss dipped the Dolphins to 5-6 overall, while the Gothic Knights improved to 7-4.
After a sac fly in the bottom of the second inning off of CSI starter Christian Capellan got NJCU on the board first, CSI retaliated with four runs spread over three innings that ultimately gave them a 4-1 lead heading into the final frames.
Off of NJCU starter Sean Gibney, Anthony DiMarco got things started with a third-inning single, and then after a Frank Muzzio walk, came around to score on a Sean Becker single into center field, knotting the score. One inning later, against reliever Jose Ortiz, John Pomarico led off with a double and then Jett Nouvertne posted a single. After Nouvertne stole second, Jordan Wilson cashed in an infield hit scoring Pomarico and moving Nouvertne to third. DiMarco then posted an RBI-groundout to expand CSI’s lead to 3-1 after four frames.
In the fifth, CSI added an insurance marker when Anthony Lozada stroked a single that scored Glenn Glennerster, who had also singled in the inning.
After being held to just three hits going into the bottom of the sixth inning, NJCU finally awoke from their slump at the plate and pieced together their offense. Three-straight singles would score the team’s second run of the game, and then Juan Pena posted an RBI groundout that advanced Bill Feehan from third base. Down 4-3 and with two out, Lenin Gomez then stroked a single through the left side and Dan Berardi came in to knot the game at 4-4. Capellan was able to survive the inning thanks to Gomez getting caught stealing, but the Gothic Knights had more scoring to do.
In the seventh against reliever Terrence Mulligan, Jan Castellano doubled and two at-bats later, Nick LoGatto towered a home run into left-center field to give NJCU the lead it would not relinquish, 6-4. Juan Rodriguez would come in to pitch for CSI in the eighth, but a two-RBI single by Tom Pulcine inflicted more damage, and the Dolphins went down in order in each of the last four innings as NJCU held on, 8-4.
NJCU reliever Dan Foley took the win, pitching the final five innings in relief, allowing a lone run on four hits. Mulligan took the loss in the inning of work. LoGatto finished 2-5 at the dish with two RBI and two runs scored for NJCU, while Pena and Castellano both went 2-4. Becker led the way at the plate for CSI, going 3-4 with an RBI. DiMarco, Glennerster, and Nouvertne each had two hits.
CSI will next be in action on Friday afternoon, when they host SUNY-Polytechnic for a doubleheader on their home field, beginning at 2pm.