JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior right fielder Joe Coutinho (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) had a two-run double in the seventh inning to draw the New Jersey City University baseball team within a run but the Gothic Knights could not take advantage of men on in the final three innings and fell to Montclair State University, 3-2, in the backend of a two-day New Jersey Athletic Conference home-and-home series on April 22 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
Montclair State (16-15, 7-5 NJAC) went ahead 1-0 on a leadoff solo home run in the second inning by junior center fielder Philip Scott (Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro), then added two runs in the top of the seventh aided by a walk and an error. The Knights fell three games under .500 with the loss (14-17, 0-12 NJAC) and have now lost 11 of their last 12 games.
NJCU turned three double plays in a game for the second time this season but committed three errors. NJCU outhit the Red Hawks, 10-7 but left seven men on.
In defeat, senior catcher Andrew Niech (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) had an eighth-inning single and moved into sole possession of second place in program history with 197 career hits. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Anthony Keri(Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) tied the single-season program record for pitching appearances with his 22nd in 31 games.
In a well-pitched game for both side, MSU senior left-handed pitcher Michael Macchia (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) earned the win (5-2), throwing 7.0 innings. In that span he allowed two runs and nine hits with one strikeout (no walks) over 85 pitches. Sophomore righty Taylor Parson (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) earned a six-out save—his third of the year—allowing one hit in 2.0 innings, striking out one.
Coutinho was 3-for-4 with two RBIs but his only out of the game was a fly out to right to end the game with the tying run on first base. Sophomore first baseman Dan Berardi (Bridgewater, N.J./Middlesex) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. MSU leadoff hitter and junior right fielder Ryan Long (Washington Township, N.J./Washington Township) was the lone Red Hawk with multiple hits, batting 2-for-5 with one RBI.
Freshman righty Anthony Carfora (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) pitched well enough to win but suffered the loss (1-3) in his second collegiate start. In 6.0 innings, he allowed just two earned runs and five hits, striking out two (four walks) over 103 pitches.
Keri came on in relief in the seventh and retired all three batters he faced over six pitches. Sophomore lefty Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, N.J./Saint Joseph-Metuchen) needed just 19 pitches to record the final six outs in relief, allowing two hits with one walk in two innings.
http://www.njcugothicknights.com/news/2016/4/22/201604-22_BASEBALL_vs_Montclair_State.aspx