SOURCE: http://www.njcugothicknights.com/news/2018/3/15/201803-15_BASEBALL_at_Moravian.aspx

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University baseball had the tying run on third with one out in the top of the ninth inning before darkness forced the game to be called and the Gothic Knights dropped a disappointing 9-8 non-conference decision to Moravian College on March 15 at Gillespie Field.
 
NJCU (5-2) lost for just the second time, playing its first Northern game since returning from its spring trip on March 8. The Knights found themselves trailing 7-1 after Moravian (5-6) scored seven times in the third inning, influenced by four NJCU errors.
 
NJCU got itself back in the game with four runs in the top of the fifth to draw within 8-5 and tied the game in the seventh when sophomore right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy)drilled his second three-run home run of the season. But Greyhound junior third baseman Evan Kulig (Allentown, Pa.) put Moravian back on top, 9-8, with a two-out RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth.
 
NJCU had a 9-8 edge in hits in the game but committed six errors, including four in the third inning. Only five of Moravian's nine runs were earned. NJCU left 10 runners on base in the loss.
 
Pena was 1-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and a walk and sophomore left fielder Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) had two RBIs (1-for-4, 1 run). Junior designated hitter Mike Albunia (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) walked and scored twice, batting 1-for-2 and junior catcher Jan Castellano (Prospect Park, NJ/Paterson Eastside) walked twice. Senior first baseman Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) was 2-for-5, upping his career hits total to 118 in 92 games. Albunia and Berardi both doubled.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Jose Ortiz (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) took the loss (1-1), striking out five and walking five against five earned runs and eight hits. Senior left-handed pitcher Kyle Kafer(Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) fanned the only batter he faced in relief in the eighth.
 
For Moravian, Kulig paced the hosts with four RBIs. In addition to the game-winning double, he drove in three runs with a triple in the third inning, finishing 2-for-5 with a run scored.
 
Junior center fielder Austin Markowski (Neshanic Station, N.J.) was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored and junior shortstop Matt Stalter (Flemington, N.J.) was 2-for-4 (one run).
 
The Greyhounds used six pitchers with the final one, junior righty Tyler Caraway (Riegelsville, Pa.)winning (1-1) in relief. He allowed two hits with a strikeout in 1.1 innings.
 
KEY PLAYS:

• NJCU led 1-0 when Albunia led off the top of the third with a double before scoring on an infield single by Feehan. In the bottom of the inning, the Greyhounds led off with two singles and loaded the bases with one out, before Kulig tripled to right center for a 3-1 lead.
• When back-to-back throwing errors extended the inning, the Greyhounds took advantage, scoring four more unearned runs without the benefit of a hit, to gain a 7-1 lead. Two errors from the middle infield occurred on the same play.
• Moravian increased the lead to 8-1 in the fourth on an RBI single by Markowski after a leadoff single and stolen base.
• The patient Gothic Knights began to rally in the fifth, scoring four times on just two hits. NJCU led off the inning with three consecutive walks by Pena, Albunia and Castellano and with the bases packed, Feehan was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Senior center fielder Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen) singled to left to knock in a run and make it 8-3. Sophomore third baseman Lenin Gomez (Edison, NJ/Edison) followed with an RBI single to left and a sac fly pushed across a fifth run. The fourth walk of the inning reloaded the bases before a strikeout left the bases full.
• Still down by three runs, NJCU had two men on with one out in the seventh and Pena homered down the left field line, tying the game at 8-8.
• Berardi doubled with one out in the eighth—his 29th career double—but was stranded in scoring position representing the go-ahead run.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Stalter singled with one out, moved to second on a walk, and scored the game-winning run on a two-out double by Kulig. Kafer came in to get the final out and stranded the bases loaded.
• In the top of the ninth, junior shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a ground out before the game was called by the umpires after 3:17 of playing in a contest that started at 4 p.m.
   

NOTABLES:
 

• The last three meetings between NJCU and Moravian since 2015 have been decided by a combined four runs.
• Moravian has won all five meetings since 2014.
• Head coach Jerry Smith has 98 career wins in 234 games in seven seasons. He is on pace to be the third fastest to reach the milestone; Ken Heaton (1990-2007) won 100 games in his 229th outing for NJCU in 1996—also in his seventh season. Larry Babich (1973-85) also won his 100th game in his 229th outing for then Jersey City State College in 1983, in his 11th season at the helm.
• Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) also hit a 3-run homer to left in game one of a doubleheader against Emerson in Auburndale, Fla. on March 5.
• Senior first baseman Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) is tied for 27th place in school history with 118 hits, equaling Anthony Caivano from 2002-05.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU heads to Salisbury, Md. to challenge one of the top teams in the region on Saturday, March 17 when it faces Salisbury University at 12 p.m. Live coverage of the game, which was added this week, will include video without commentary. The Gulls are 7-4 over, including a 3-1 win over No. 19 Catholic yesterday. Salisbury has made 23 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 18 consecutive seasons since 2000. The Gulls received 40 points in the latest D3baseball.com Top 25 poll, equivalent to a No. 30 national listing, and 41 points in the American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Baseball Poll.

 
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