JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Keystone College demonstrated on Wednesday afternoon why it's considered one of the best teams in the country. The No. 3/6 ranked Giants received a complete-game three-hit shutout from senior right-hander Connor Smith (Tinton Falls, NJ/St. Rose) and won their 19^th consecutive game, defeating New Jersey City University, 6-0, in a non-conference contest at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The swift-moving game lasted just 2:04.
 
Keystone, ranked No. 3 by D3baseball.com and No. 6 by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) in Division III, improved to 29-4. Keystone has not lost since March 30 and it received two first-place votes in the April 24 D3baseball poll. The national ranking and first place votes received are KC school records. NJCU (12-23) dropped its fifth in a row. It was the first meeting between the teams in Jersey City; Keystone leads the series, which originated in 2008, by a 4-0 margin.
 
Smith improved to 5-0 with his first complete game and first shutout of the season. He scattered three singles with four strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter while facing 31 batters over 106 pitches. He did not walk a batter until two outs in the ninth inning and Smith retired 18 consecutive batters after a leadoff single in the second inning, before allowing a one-out eighth inning single. He was backed up by a defense that played sensationally. Smith induced 16 ground ball outs and six fly outs. NJCU did not have a runner reach second base after the first inning.
 
Eight of the nine players in the Keystone lineup had a hit and all produced offense in some capacity. Leading the charge was All-American senior second baseman Esteban Meletiche (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford). A 2012 First-Team Preseason All-America and 2011 Second-Team All-America pick by D3baseball.com, he led off for the Giants and was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, one run, his 12^th double and 23^rd stolen base.

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