SAN ANTONIO, Texas (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University baseball team led 5-0 over No. 4/5 ranked Trinity University before the Tigers unearthed a rally befitting of one of the best teams in the nation—scoring three in the eighth and forcing extra innings with two in the ninth, including a game-tying single, before hitting a walkoff two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th to survive an upset scare from the Gothic Knights, 7-5, on March 10 at the Trinity University Baseball Field.
Trinity, ranked fourth in the preseason American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball poll and now No. 5 by D3baseball.com, improved to 10-2 overall. The Gothic Knights (1-8) were playing the fifth of six games on their first-ever Texas spring break trip. Trinity won both games of the two-day series.
Junior third baseman Jack Wisniewski (San Antonio, Texas) hit the first two homers of the season—a solo shot in the ninth to make it 5-4 and the game-winning walkoff blast in the 10th.
The loss spoiled a milestone for NJCU senior center fielder Juan Pena. His double to left center in the eighth inning was his 100th career hit in just his 83rd career game in just over two seasons in Jersey City, becoming the 45th member of the 100-hit club and just the 16th to accomplish the feat in only a three-year career.
Sophomore catcher Luiggie Luna notched his first collegiate hit in 23 at bats—a two-run homer in the seventh that pushed the NJCU lead to 4-0.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Paul Tannucilli threw one of the best games of his career but took a no-decision. He threw 8.0 innings—tossing seven shutout frames before the Tigers finally broke through. He allowed four runs on ninth hits with two K's (five walks). Sophomore closer John Pudder was the hard-luck loser, narrowly missing ending the game on multiple two-strike pitches in the ninth.
NJCU had seven hits—two each by junior second baseman Brandon Rivera (2-for-4, 1 HBP) and sophomore first baseman Ricky Voss (2-for-5, 1 run). Pena was 1-for-3 with two walks and Luna had two RBIs.
Trinity had 11 hits, led by Wisniewski, who finished with the three RBIs based on two homers. He was 2-for-5 with two runs. Junior left fielder Jack Vonderhaar (Woodinville, Wash.) had two RBIs, batting 2-for-4 with a triple. Senior right fielder Rafe Chaumette (Sugar Land, Texas) added two runs, going 2-for-4. Junior catcher Tyler Pettit (Round Rock, Texas) and senior first baseman Michael Goodrich (Gilbert, Ariz.) each added two hits.
Junior righty Corey Cater (Sacramento, Calif.) got the win in relief (3-0), striking out all four batters he faced in 1.1 innings of relief. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Samuel Conte (Boston, Mass.) threw the first 6.0 innings, striking out seven against four walks, two runs and two hits. Trinity used four pitchers in the comeback win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the top of the first, freshman third baseman Michael Marrero singled, Rivera was hit by a pitch and they combined for a double steal. When the catcher's throw went into center, Marrero came home for a 1-0 lead. NJCU left runners on the corners. Trinity threatened in the bottom of the inning before a line drive to center was caught and Chaumette, who singled with one out, was doubled off second.
- NJCU went ahead 2-0 in the third. Marrero led off with a walk and stole second and third with one out but was erased on a fielder's choice at the plate. Voss singled to center and freshman right fielder Justin Wiltsey, who reached on the previous play, moved to third. A grounder to third by Pena was bobbled and everyone was safe, scoring Wiltsey for a 2-0 lead.
- Trinity threatened with two outs in the fourth, using a single and walk to put a pair on base before Tannucilli got Wisniewski to foul out down the left field line with a great running catch by Marrero.
- NJCU used defense again in the fifth inning to end an inning. After a one-out walk to senior shortstop Michael Herrera, Chaumette again lined into a double play, this time to Rivera at second.
- NJCU notched its third double play of the game to end the sixth inning. With two men on after singles by Goodrich and Pettit, Tannucilli got Vonderhaar to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.
- In the top of the seventh, the Gothic Knights got a break and a milestone. With one out, freshman shortstop Tyler Springett was hit by a pitch and narrowly escaped a pickoff rundown at first. Luna came to the plate 0-for-23 in his collegiate career and notched his first collegiate hit—a two-run homer over the left field fence.
- NJCU added a fifth run in the eighth inning. Voss singled to left and Pena came to the plate, ripping a double to the left center gap for his 100th career hit. With two runners in scoring position, sophomore right fielder Miguel Valentin hit a long sacrifice fly to center to drive in Voss with a sacrifice fly.
- In the bottom of the eighth, Chaumette singled with one out and the next batter walked. Goodrich broke up the shutout bid with a single to left to knock in Chaumette. With two on and two outs, Vonderhaar lofted a two-run triple off the right field wall to cut the deficit to 5-3. With the tying run at the plate, a fly ball to center ended further damage.
- Trinity rallied in the ninth. Wisniewski led off with a solo homer to right to cut the deficit to 5-4. A walk put the tying run on before Luna erased it with a caught stealing throw to second for the second out. But NJCU could not seal it Chaumette walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single through the right side to even it, 5-5. Junior center fielder Mason Meredith (Houston, Texas) stole second, representing the winning run, and after a walk, Pudder got Pettit to pop out to short.
- Cater struck out all three NJCU batters swinging in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the 10th Trinity walked with one out and Wisniewski hit his second homer in as many innings, a two-run shot to clear the right field fence for the win.
UP NEXT:
- NJCU concludes its Texas trip on Wednesday, March 10 at 12 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Central) facing Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. The Pirates are 6-6 overall after winning 24 games in 2019. They are members of the American Southwest Conference (ASC).
- Live Stats: https://southwesternpirates.com/sports/m-basebl/2019-20/boxscores/20200311_37cc.xml
- Video: https://collegetvticket.com/portal/southwestern
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