WILKES-BARRE, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior left fielder ANDREW RIVERA (Edison, NJ/Edison) went 3-for-3 with five RBIs including what turned out to be a critical three-run homerun in the eighth inning as New Jersey City University withstood a five-run ninth-inning rally by hosts King's College to claim its first road victory of the season, 10-6, on Tuesday afternoon at Lipo Field.
NJCU (9-11) snapped a four-game losing streak while sending the Monarchs (8-12) to their third loss in a row. NJCU outhit King's 14-10 and led 10-1, with three runs in the third and four more in the eighth to break open what had been a 3-1 contest after five innings.
Rivera's second career round-tripper, a shot to right center with two runners on, highlighted a day where 11 of NJCU's 14 hits came from a quartet of players.
Freshman shortstop MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and his eighth double of the season, batting as the cleanup hitter, and sophomore designated hitter ROB ROMAN (Hoboken, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) scored twice, drove in two runs, and batted 2-for-4 with his second career double in the five spot in the lineup. JuniorORLANDO BOLANO (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) bumped his batting average up by going 3-for-5 with two runs, one RBI and a double.
Sophomore righty RYAN MITCHELL (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) had tossed just 9.1 innings of relief this season in five relief appearances before being called upon to make his first career start and he tossed eight innings of four-hit, one-run baseball before getting into late trouble in the ninth, ahead by nine runs. He ended up winning his first game (1-0), striking out five versus two walks in 8.2 innings, against six runs and eight hits.
Junior righty WENDELL RODRIGUEZ (Ponce, Puerto Rico/County Prep) came on in relief as the third NJCU pitcher in the bottom of the ninth inning, with the bases loaded and junior third baseman Cody Krupa (Slatington, Pa.) at the plate representing the tying run. Rodriguez nailed down the win by striking out Krupa on four pitches to claim his second career save—both coming this season.