UNION, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University rode seven strong innings from senior right-handed pitcher Fernando Guerrero (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) in game one and defeated Montclair State University, 5-2, in the opening game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader played at Kean University's Jim Hynes `63 Stadium on April 23. MSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the nightcap and edged NJCU, 5-1.
The doubleheader, rained out in Jersey City on Saturday, moved to Little Falls on Monday before being rained out a second time, was moved to Kean—a neutral-site with lights—earlier in the day and started at 4:30 p.m. with NJCU serving as the home team on the scoreboard in both games. With the split, NJCU is 13-16 overall and 3-11 in the NJAC. Montclair drops to 11-22 and 2-12 NJAC.
The doubleheader represented the first neutral-site conference games on record in the 71-year history of NJCU baseball.
GAME 1: New Jersey City University 5, Montclair State University 2
Guerrero (3-2), NJCU's ace, threw 7.0 shutout innings, allowing just six hits while striking out four (three walks) over 114 pitches. After MSU scored twice in the top of the ninth to end the shutout bid against the NJCU bullpen, senior left-handed pitcher Kyle McCabe (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) came into the game with the bases loaded and retired the final two batters to nail down the win with his first save of the season and second in an NJCU uniform.
Senior center fielder Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) led NJCU with two RBIs, batting 2-for-3 with one run while junior right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) was 2-for-4 with one RBI and stole his 28th base of the season. Senior third baseman Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) scored twice, walking twice.
MSU, which edged NJCU in hits, 10-7, was led by junior center fielder Brody Labbe (Windham, Conn.) who was 4-for-4 with a walk. Freshman left fielder Daniel Clemente (Toms River, N.J.) went 3-for-5. Junior lefty Brian Reiss (Watchung, N.J.) took the loss (3-4), allowing five runs (three earned) with four K's and four walks in 6.1 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
NJCU jumped on the board in the first inning. Pulcine led off with a walk and scored from first on a double into the right-center gap on the first pitch to Kraft. Senior shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) grounded out to third, advancing Kraft on the groundout. When the return throw from the MSU first baseman was wide, Kraft scored on the error.
MSU threatened in the second. After a two-out walk and a wild pitch, junior shortstop Hayden Reyes (Cranbury, N.J.) hit a line drive to right. Pena laid out to make a diving catch on the ball tailing off to save a run and end the inning.
In the bottom of the second, senior designated hitter Mike Albunia (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) struck out on a pitch in the dirt. But on the throw to first, the MSU catcher threw the ball high down the right field line. Albunia advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on a bloop double to left center by freshman first baseman Ricky Voss (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional). After a bunt single by freshman left fielder Leo Colon (Carteret, NJ/St. Anthony (Jersey City)) put runners on the corners, Pulcine walked to load the bases and sacrifice fly by Kraft made it 4-0.
In the top of the fourth, MSU sophomore designated hitter Andrew Ollwerther (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) scorched the first pitch of the game deep down the left field line but Colon made a long running catch going towards the corner to rob the Red Hawks of an extra-base hit. NJCU also turned two 6-4-3 double plays in the third and fifth innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, Pulcine and Kraft singled and Pena ripped a single under the glove of the MSU third baseman and down the line for an RBI single and a 5-0 lead.
MSU threatened in the eighth on a potential inning-ending double play ball to second as the ball caromed off the field umpire on a line drive and everyone was safe. NJCU got out of the inning with a pair of ground balls. MSU loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth after a walk, hit batter and single to right by Labbe. A strikeout got the first out before a wild pitch broke up the shutout. A blooper down the left field line made it 5-2 and another walk loaded the bases again. McCabe entered and struck out Clemente with a beautiful hanging curve ball then coaxed a game-ending lineout.
GAME 2: Montclair State University 5, New Jersey City University 1
In the nightcap, Montclair State scored four times in the middle innings to earn the split. MSU outhit NJCU, 15-6.
MSU was led by freshman righty Matt Pickus (Jackson, N.J.) who claimed his first collegiate victory (1-0) with 6.1 innings of solid pitching. He struck out six, walked two and allowed just one run against five hits in 91 pitches. Freshman righty Justin Silva (Woodbridge, N.J.) threw the final 2.2 innings to secure his first save, striking out three over 53 pitches. He allowed two hits and no runs.
Labbe finished the doubleheader a combined 7-for-9 after batting 3-for-5 in the second game and senior left fielder Nick Martinez (Wall, N.J.) was 4-for-5 with an RBI.
Six different Red Hawks had multiple hits. Clemente, Ollwerther, junior second baseman Joe Norton (Cranford, N.J.) and freshman third baseman Brad Edwards (East Brunswick, N.J.) each collected two hits.
Colon and junior designated hitter Ty Hawkins (Point Pleasant, NJ/Manasquan) each had two hits for NJCU. Junior righty Ian Ambrose (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) suffered the loss (0-4) in 6.0 innings of work. Four NJCU relievers—sophomore righty Jason Rivera (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), McCabe, senior righties Sean Gibney (Rutherford, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) and Nate Facey (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) combined to shutout Montclair and allowed just three more hits in the final three innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
A two-out error in the second inning allowed MSU to take a 1-0 lead with a runner scoring from first base. In the top of the fourth after a leadoff walk, Clemente tripled down the right field line for a 2-0 lead and he scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman first baseman Donald Gonnelli (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) for a 3-0 edge.
In the fifth, MSU loaded the bases with one out after three straight singles and a bases-loaded two-out walk to Edwards forced in the fourth run (4-0). MSU made it 5-0 in the top of the sixth on a two-out single to shortstop by Martinez who singled and advanced to third on a single by Labbe.
NJCU had just one hit through five innings but in the bottom of the sixth, freshman catcher Anthony Palmisano (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) and senior second baseman Matt Corsi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) singled back-to-back to open the frame. Colon dropped down a sac bunt but when Montclair failed to cover first base, NJCU loaded the bases with its third hit of the inning. With the top of the order up, Pulcine drove in a run with a groundout to second. NJCU couldn't produce another hit and stranded two on base with its best scoring chance of the game.
Pena made a great diving catch in the gap in right center to take an extra-base hit away from MSU in the seventh. In the bottom of the single, LoGatto led off with a walk and Kraft singled but NJCU couldn't manufacture a run.
MSU loaded the based with no outs in the eighth on three consecutive singles. With one out, McCabe came in, faced one batter and struck him out and Gibney fanned MSU to end the inning and strand the bases full.
Hawkins doubled down the right field line on the 10th pitch of his at bat with two outs in the ninth but it wasn't enough to spark a rally.
UP NEXT:
NJCU will head to Langhorne, Pa. on Wednesday, April 24 for a non-conference game with Cairn University at 3:30 p.m.
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