ALLAMUCHY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore first baseman Dan Berardi (Bridgewater, N.J./Middlesex) homered and drove in three runs and rookie right-handed pitcher Corey Nase (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) entered in a jam in the seventh inning before nailing down a 2.1 inning save as the New Jersey City University baseball team continued to win, knocking off Centenary College (NJ), 9-7, in a non-conference game on April 6 at Allamuchy Green Acres Park.
Junior third baseman Zach Buchholz (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) extended his on-base streak to 36 consecutive games—the third longest in school history and among the longest ever in the NJAC.
NJCU improved to 13-6 as it scored four times in the third inning for a 6-2 advantage and two critical insurance runs in the seventh to make the lead 8-4. The Cyclones (11-9) scored three times in the seventh beforeNase stopped the bleeding and NJCU tacked on a single run in the eighth for safe measures.
Senior designated hitter Andrew Niech (Avenel, N.J./Colonia)chalked up the 44th and 45th doubles of his career, batting 3-for-5 with two runs scored. With 57 combined extra-base hits (45 doubles, two triples, 10 homers), NJCU's all-time doubles leader becomes NJCU's all-time leader in total extra-base hits, breaking a 28-year-old school record. He also scored the 100th and 101st runs of his career.
Berardi smashed his third homer of the season to highlight NJCU's 14-hit attack, batting 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs. Junior catcher CJ Pulcine (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) scored twice, knocked in a run and batted 2-for-5 and Buchholz had two RBIs and a double. Junior second baseman Taylor Born (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield)drove in two runs while junior left fielder Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) was 3-for-5.
Sophomore righty Anthony Keri (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), the second of five Gothic Knight pitchers, entered the game in the fourth inning. In 3.0 innings he struck out three, walked none and allowed just one hit over 35 pitches to improve to 2.0.
Nase claimed his third save of the season in just his sixth appearance. He becomes the seventh pitcher in school history to have at least three saves in a season and only one (Joseph Tarallo, 2009, 8 saves) had more. In 2.1 shutout innings, he did walk four, but he struck out one and did not allow a hit. After Centenary had a two-run double in the seventh to cut the lead to one, Nase entered the game. He walked the first batter after a seven-pitch battle that loaded the bases, then got a ground ball to end the inning. He got three quick outs in the eighth with a walk sprinkled in. He walked two in the ninth, including one with two outs, before striking out the last batter of the game looking.
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