JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | No. 25 ranked Neumann University retired the first 14 Gothic Knight batters in order and led 8-0, aided by four New Jersey City University errors before a miraculous seventh inning rally changed the dynamic of the game. NJCU scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie as 13 batters came to the plate. But Neumann extended the longest active winning streak in Division III to 11 games by notching two runs in the top of the ninth and held on for a surprisingly suspenseful, 10-8 non-conference win on Tuesday afternoon at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
Neumann improved to 13-3 with 10 of its 11 wins during the current streak by a margin of three runs or less, including four consecutive decisions by one or two runs and seven victories overall by two or fewer runs. NJCU (5-5) dropped to 0-2 on the season at home while playing its first game since returning north from its annual spring trip to Florida.
Neumann used eight pitchers in the game and 23 different NU Knights saw action for a squad that also received votes in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Top 30 poll.
After a scoreless eighth inning for both sides, Neumann snapped the 8-8 deadlock in the top of the ninth. Junior center fielder Marty Sessa (Lincoln University, PA) led off with a bloop single over third, advanced to second on a sacrifice and third on a grounder for the second out of the inning.
With NJCU needing one out to get out of the inning unharmed, senior right fielder Bobby Callan (Drexel Hill, PA), who did not start the game, dropped down a bunt to the right of the pitcher's mound. Sophomore left-hander Zack Markle (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) stumbled coming off the mound trying to field the play, Callan reached safely with an RBI single—just his third hit of the season—and Sessa scored the go-ahead run. Junior Michael Tomeo (Holland, PA) pinch hit with a double to center field, scoring Callan with the 10th run before rookie righty Kevin DeMauro (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) struck out junior first baseman Tyler Drinkard (Glen Burnie, MD) to end the inning.