JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University scored seven runs in the sixth inning to break open a one-run game and won for the eighth time in nine games on March 28, knocking off SUNY Old Westbury, 15-6, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
NJCU (8-4) hit two homers and had seven extra-base hits among its 15 total hits in the game, led by junior right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) who was a double shy of the cycle. NJCU won despite committing seven errors in the game with a chilly wind blowing in off of Newark Bay. Old Westbury fell to 5-9-1.
At 8-1 in its last nine games, NJCU is enjoying its most successful stretch since going 9-1 in a 10-game stretch from April 17-May 7, 2005.
NJCU put up four runs in the second inning for a 4-1 lead before the Panthers tagged on single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings. NJCU's seven-run sixth inning vaulted the lead to 12-4 and well out of reach.
Pena batted 3-for-4 and was on base four times (one walk), driving in four RBIs while scoring three times. He had undoubtedly the most electric play of the day—an inside-the-park homer to left center with two outs in the seventh. He also tripled in a pair of runs before later scoring in the sixth.
Freshman catcher Anthony Palmisano (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) had his best offensive effort as a collegian, scoring three times in a 2-for-2 effort (one RBI). Freshman first baseman Ricky Voss (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional), the two-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week and senior shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) each had two RBIs; Voss smashed a two-run homer in the second inning for his first collegiate dinger.
Junior Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) made his return to the lineup after suffering an injury in the season opener on March 9 and in a designated hitter role walked twice and scored each time. Senior second baseman Matt Corsi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) had two hits while senior center fielder Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) walked twice and was 1-for-3.
On a day where NJCU's bats did the talking, senior left-handed pitcher Anthony Zicaro (Linden, NJ/Linden) (1-0) enjoyed perhaps his finest career start, striking out seven against one walk in 6.0 innings; he allowed two earned runs and six hits. Freshman righty Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) and junior righty Corey Nase (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
OW senior first baseman John Condon (Oceanside, N.Y.) and sophomore designated hitter Peter Capel (Hicksville, N.Y.) each had two hits. Freshman righty Mike Homan (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) took the loss (0-2), allowing four runs and five hits in 2.0 innings. OW threw five pitchers in the game.
Leading 5-4 entering the bottom of the sixth, NJCU batted around when it sent 11 men to the plate. A leadoff single to Palmisano, a hit batter and a walk to Kraft loaded the bases and LoGatto slipped a two-run single through the left side to extend the lead to 7-4. LoGatto and Kraft executed a double steal before Pena tripled in both to make it 9-4. An RBI single by Corsi put the runs total in double figures. A throwing error and a sacrifice fly made it 12-4. Pena's inside-the-park shot to deep in the left center gap made it 13-4 in the seventh inning.
Already leading considerably late in the game, NJCU's bench got in on the action in the eighth inning as senior Mike Albunia (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic), sophomore Dan McLaughlin (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) and freshman Leo Colon (Carteret, NJ/St. Anthony (Jersey City)) doubled back-to-back-to-back to add on a pair of runs for a 15-4 advantage.
OF NOTE:
- Anthony Zicaro (Linden, NJ/Linden) matched his career high for strikeouts of seven in 8.2 innings against Rutgers-Newark on April 5, 2018.
- NJCU scored 10+ runs in a game for the fourth time this season.
- Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) has reached base in 17 consecutive games dating to the 2018 season.
UP NEXT:
NJCU will open New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday, March 30 at 11:30 a.m. with a home doubleheader against Stockton University. The Ospreys are 10-4; Stockton has lost four in a row following a 10-0 start to the year. Watch live on #GothicVision at www.NJCUGothicKnights.com/GothicVision or live stats https://njcugothicknights.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary.
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