MAHWAH, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University led 1-0 before Ramapo College scored in five consecutive innings in the middle of the game to defeat the Gothic Knights, 7-1, in the opening game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference home-and-home series on April 17 at Jeff Maund Field.
After NJCU scored in the top of the third, Ramapo (17-10, 8-3 NJAC) tied it in the bottom of the inning, added another run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth for a 4-1 edge. The Roadrunners cemented the win with a single run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Ramapo outhit NJCU, 13-6, in an error-free game. The loss was the sixth straight for NJCU (12-14, 2-9 NJAC) and the Knights bats have scored just four runs in the last three games.
Senior third baseman Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) had half of NJCU's hits, batting 3-for-3 with his seventh double of the season, driving in junior right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) with the first run of the game in the third inning.
Ramapo junior left fielder Kyle Buser (Ramsey, N.J.) hit his second home run of the season and finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs while sophomore right fielder Matt Carovillano (Middlesex, N.J.) had two RBIs, batting 2-for-4 with a run scored. Junior catcher Vincent Timpanelli (Staten Island, N.Y.) and sophomore shortstop Anthony Kuzmenko (Green Brook, N.J.) each had two hits.
Junior right-handed pitcher Tyler Lombardo (Stirling, N.J.) started and struck out six but walked three in the first 4.0 innings for RCNJ before sophomore righty Riley Weis (River Vale, N.J.) earned the win as the first of three relievers. In improving to 2-2, he allowed one hit in 3.0 innings, striking out one.
Senior left-handed pitcher Anthony Zicaro (Linden, NJ/Linden) suffered his first loss of the season for NJCU (2-1), allowing two runs and seven hits in 3.2 innings, striking out four (three walks). Senior righty Nate Facey (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick), the fourth NJCU pitcher, struck out three in 2.0 innings, allowing one hit.
After NJCU gained a 1-0 lead on Pulcine's RBI double in the third inning, the Knights left the bases loaded and RCNJ tied it in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Kuzmenko. Ramapo claimed a 2-1 lead after four innings. With two outs, Carovillano doubled and he scored on an RBI single by freshman second baseman Kyle Lisa (Whippany, N.J.) before leaving the bags full.
Buser hit a two-run homer in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-1 and NJCU was limited to just one hit the rest of the game. RCNJ added three insurance runs to cement its 7-1 decision.
UP NEXT:
NJCU and Ramapo conclude the home-and-home series on Thursday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. Watch live on #GothicVision at www.NJCUGothicKnights.com/GothicVision or live stats https://njcugothicknights.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary.
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