JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior catcherAndrew Niech (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) hit homers in the first and second innings—the second a grand slam—and produced five RBIs and four runs and leading 8-6 after seven innings, the New Jersey City University baseball team cemented its 12th win with seven more runs in the eighth as NJCU surged past Marywood University, 15-6, in a non-conference game on March 31 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
NJCU won its fifth in a row, and its sixth in seven games to improve to 12-4 overall—just a half game behind the 1980 team that opened the year 12-3-1 after 16 games for the best start to a season in school history. Marywood, members of the Colonial States Athletic Conference, fell to 4-9. The 12 wins in the month of March is the most ever for NJCU.
Niech now has five homers in his last six games. In a 2-for-4 effort in the win he also walked twice, after hitting a long solo homer in the first inning to center and a grand slam to right center in the second inning. In 16 games he already has 26 RBIs and 29 hits. Moreover, he notched his 10th career homer, 180th career hit and 93rd RBI. He now has 55 career extra base hits—equaling the program record—and has scored 99 runs.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Elijah Pereira (Jersey City, N.J./Ferris) was brilliant in 5.0 shutout innings of relief to garner the win (2-0). In that span he allowed just three hits, striking out four without issuing a walk over a manageable 60 pitches.
While Niech had the big numbers, sophomore center fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck)batted 3-for-6 with an RBI and run scored and twice dropped down bunt singles then burned the Pacers with his speed.
Junior right fielder Joe Coutinho(Colonia, N.J./Colonia) reached base five times, batting 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored while walking three times. Junior third basemanZach Buchholz (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) extended his on-base streak to 33 consecutive games and walked twice. Junior designated hitter CJ Pulcine (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) drew three walks and freshman shortstop Nick LoGatto(Helmetta, N.J./Spotswood) was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Junior left fielder Nick Ruscingno(Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) scored twice.
Freshman lefty Kyle Kafer(Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown)started for NJCU and went 3.0 innings before leaving with a no decision. He struck out three and walked three. Sophomore rightySean Gibney (Rutherford, N.J./Saint Mary-Rutherford) had a strikeout and faced just four batters in relief in the ninth.
For the Pacers, senior shortstopDaniel Hull (Chalfont, Pa.) was 3-for-4 with three RBIs at the top of the order and freshman designated hitter Chase Jones (Mountain Top, Pa.) had two RBIs. Sophomore right fielder David Ortiz (Hawley, Pa.) was 2-for-3 with two runs and junior first baseman Matt Staback (Peckville, Pa.) had two hits.
Marywood used four pitchers. Junior righty Casey Reed (Scranton, Pa.) took the loss (0-2), giving up seven hits and eight runs with five walks (one strikeout) in 3.0 innings.
READ MORE: http://njcugothicknights.com/news/2016/3/31/201603-31_BASEBALL_vs_Marywood.aspx