JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University baseball scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and limited Wesley College (Del.) to four hits as the Gothic Knights won their 2019 home opener at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex, 7-3, in a St. Patrick's Day non-conference tilt.
NJCU (4-3), needed only five hits to win its fourth consecutive game, taking advantage of free passes from Wesley's pitching. The Wolverines (1-10-1) walked nine Gothic Knights and hit two batters.
Senior second baseman Matt Corsi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) continued his great week, driving in three runs while getting on base four times—batting 2-for-2 while walking twice. Junior right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI and senior shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) walked twice and scored two times with one RBI.
Senior third baseman Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) scored twice for NJCU and senior designated hitter Mike Albunia (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) walked twice and had one RBI.
Senior right-hander Nate Facey (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) earned the win in relief, allowing one hit in 4.0 innings (three runs), in relief of rookie righty Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge), who opened the game and tossed two shutout innings against two hits. Senior left-hander Kyle McCabe (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) struck out one in 1.0 innings of relief. Senior righty Sean Gibney (Rutherford, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) threw 2.0 near-flawless no-hit innings of relief, striking out two of the seven batters he faced.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Pulcine, who was hit by pitches twice in the game, was struck to open the inning, senior center fielder Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) walked and the tandem stole second and third before Pulcine scored on a sacrifice fly by LoGatto. NJCU stranded the bases loaded to end the inning and the Wolverines, threatening in the second with one out, also left the bags full.
Wesley tied it in the top of the third before NJCU answered in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI single to left center by Corsi, knocking in LoGatto who walked and stole second.
NJCU pulled away with four runs in the fifth. After freshman left fielder Leo Colon (Carteret, NJ/St. Anthony (Jersey City)) led off with a single and Pulcine walked, the runners advanced on a balk and Kraft's sacrifice fly made it 3-1. LoGatto was intentionally walked and an infield single by Pena pushed across Pulcine with the fourth run. With runners at second and third Corsi doubled down the left field line to extend the lead to 6-3 as the Knights scored four times on three hits before stranding the bases loaded.
Wesley scored twice in the top of the seventh to cut into the lead. But with runners on the corners and one out, sophomore center fielder Cory Joines (New Castle, Del.) struck out and the Wolverines attempted a double steal. After freshman catcher Anthony Palmisano (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) initially threw down to second, LoGatto returned the throw to the plate where freshman first baseman Brock Wingate (Frankford, Del.) would have been easily tagged before being ruled out by the umpire for running over the Gothic Knight catcher in a pivotal play.
Leading 6-3, NJCU added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh as Pena led off with a single, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly from Albunia before Gibney closed the door in relief.
UP NEXT:
NJCU plays the first of six consecutive road non-conference games beginning on Tuesday, March 19 when the Gothic Knights face Moravian College (5-6) in Bethlehem, Pa. at 4 p.m.
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