SOURCE: http://www.njcugothicknights.com/news/2017/3/7/201703-07_BASEBALL_vs_Gwynedd_Mercy.aspx
LAKELAND, Fla. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Gwynedd Mercy University scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning and received a complete-game pitching performance as the Griffins defeated the New Jersey City University baseball team, 11-1, at the historic Henley Field Ball Park on March 7 in game five of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
Gwynedd Mercy (3-2), whose only two losses are to nationally-ranked opponents, added four runs in the sixth and chalked up 10 hits in a game that was called after seven innings due to tournament time constraints. NJCU fell to 1-4 on the trip in the only game with a margin greater than three runs.
Junior right-handed pitcher Mike Di Ianni (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Holy Spirit) tossed an 85-pitch complete game for his first win (1-0), striking out six (one walk) against four hits. Sophomore third baseman Nick Mulvey (Bensalem, Pa.) tallied three RBIs, batting 3-for-4 with two runs for the Griffins.
No Gothic Knight had multiple hits; senior right fielder Joe Coutinho (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) was 1-for-3 with a double.
NJCU used five pitchers in the loss. Freshman left-handed pitcher Brian Costello (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) made his first career start and appearance but suffered the loss (0-1), walking two batters and giving up one run in a third of an inning. Freshman righty Sanjay Mangroo (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) was the most effective of the five to throw. He struck out two batters in one inning of work, allowing one hit.
Gwynedd Mercy led 2-0 after three innings, scoring single runs in the first and second frames. Sophomore first baseman Ryan Keen (Berlin, N.J./Eastern) was 2-for-3 with two runs and sophomore shortstop Justin Curtin (Washington Township, N.J./Neumann-Goretti) knocked in two runs and scored twice. Junior center fielder Jason Mulvey (Bensalem, Pa.) scored twice and swiped two bags.
Up 2-0, the Griffins scored five runs on five hits in the fourth. The big hit was a bases-loaded two-run single through the left side by Nick Mulvey, to make it 5-0. With GM ahead 6-0, NJCU thought it got out of the inning when sophomore shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, N.J./Spotswood) made a strong throw across the diamond from deep in the hole but the Griffins appealed, winning the challenge, which allowed a seventh run to score.
After NJCU got on the board in the fifth when LoGatto singled, advanced two bases on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by senior third baseman Taylor Born (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), GM added four runs on one hit in the sixth, scoring three runs on a double error.
OF NOTE:
- First meeting between NJCU and Gwynedd Mercy since April 29, 2014.
- Henley Field, the site of the game, was the former spring training home of the Detroit Tigers. Hall-of-Famer Ty Cobb was among the legends who played at the stadium.
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU plays the final game of the spring trip on Wednesday, March 8 at 9:15 a.m. when it meets Muskingum University at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex Field #6 in Auburndale, Fla. The Fighting Muskies (1-3), from New Concord, Ohio, are members of the Ohio Athletic Conference. Live stats and play-by-play video are available at www.NJCUGothicKnights.com.