SOURCE: http://www.njcugothicknights.com/news/2018/4/28/201804-28_BASEBALL_at_Rutgers-Camden.aspx

CAMDEN, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior left-handed pitcher Kyle Kafer tossed a complete-game with six strikeouts in game two as the New Jersey City University baseball team (19-17, 6-11 NJAC) tied its single-season record for victories with a split of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader against Rutgers University-Camden on April 28, losing the opener, 9-2, before prevailing 8-2 in game two at Campbell's Field.

The 19th win matches the single-season record set in 1986 and previously matched in 1995 and 2005. NJCU has two regular season games remaining to try to win 20 for the first time and has guaranteed it will finish the regular season with at least a .500 record for the second straight season (18-18 in 2017). The win also makes NJCU postseason eligible for the ECAC Division III Tournament next month.

In game two, Kafer, potentially starting for the final time as a Gothic Knights, improved to 4-3 with his second complete game both this season and in his three seasons on the mound for NJCU. In 9.0 innings, he struck out six, walked none, and bookended single runs in the first and ninth innings against nine hits.

Junior shortstop/third baseman Nick LoGatto, junior center fielder Jesse Kraft and junior catcher Jan Castellano each had four hits in the twinbill for NJCU. LoGatto upped his season hits total to 54 and has 93 hits in 99 games and 87 starts in his career. He is 23-for-23 in steals this season. Kraft was 4-for-8 with three runs on the day and Castellano scored twice, batting 4-for-8 on the day.

GAME 1: Rutgers-Camden 9, New Jersey City 2

Leading 2-0 after three, Rutgers-Camden scored five times in the fourth inning—four of which were unearned after the Knights committed a pair of errors and Camden added two more runs in the fifth.

Junior lefty Steven Bloyed (North Brunswick, N.J.) went the first 7.0 scoreless innings for the Scarlet Raptors (3-2), striking out nine (two walks) and six hits. Senior righty Tommy Dolaghan (Harrison, N.J.) threw a scoreless inning of relief before the Knights scored twice in the ninth off of freshman reliever Mike Thompson (Williamstown, N.J.). Camden had a 10-8 edge in hits.

For Camden, its infield produced most of the offense. Sophomore shortstop Nolan Gerold (Merchantville, N.J.) scored three times and drove in two in a 2-for-4 showing. Sophomore third baseman Matthew Stoots (Browns Mills, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs (1 run, 1 walk). Junior second baseman Chris Jones (Washington Township, N.J.) scored twice and was 2-for-4. Sophomore Matt Yanick (Palmyra, N.J.) was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI in a pinch hitter/designated hitter role.

Senior left-handed pitcher Mike Ramirez took the loss for NJCU (2-3), striking out four against two walks in 4.0 innings. He only allowed five hits and three earned runs. Freshman righty Jason Rivera tossed the final 4.0 innings, giving up two runs and five hits with a pair of strikeouts (three walks).

Kraft and Castellano each batted 2-for-4 with one run and a double. Junior second baseman Tom Pulcine had an RBI single in the ninth inning.

Stoots gave Camden a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run double to center. The game changed in the fourth as Camden scored five times on just two hits. After an error extended the inning, NJCU intentionally walked Stoots with one out to load the bases and set up a force and Ramirez struck out the next batter. But a hit batter and bases loaded walk pushed the lead to 5-0 and two more runs came in on a throwing error.

In the fifth, Jones singled and scored on a triple by Gerold before he was driven in for a 9-0 lead by Yanick.

GAME 2: New Jersey City 8, Rutgers-Camden 2

Camden scored in the first inning but NJCU tied it in the second, went ahead in a two-run fifth and Kafer kept the Raptors off balance with his gem. After a single run in the sixth made it 4-1, NJCU sealed the win with a four-run top of the ninth.

LoGatto batted 3-for-5 with two runs, a double and one RBI and Kraft scored twice, batting 2-for-3 with a triple and one RBI. Castellano batted 2-for-3 with one run and a walk. Freshman Ryan Guthrie made his first career start at shortstop and rewarded head coach Jerry Smith for the decision, scoring twice in a 1-for-3 effort (1 RBI). NJCU had a 12-9 differential in hits.

For Camden, Yanick was 2-for-4 (1 run) and sophomore catcher Tyler Travis (Berlin, N.J.) was 2-for-4. Junior lefty Drew Zytko (Brick, N.J.) took the loss in a starting role (2-4), giving up four runs (two earned) and six hits in 5.1 innings.

After Camden scored in the first on a groundout after a single and double, NJCU tied it in the second. After LoGatto reached on a leadoff error, he stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error on the steal attempt and scored on an RBI groundout by Ramirez, the designated hitter in game two.

Still tied 1-1, NJCU went ahead in the fifth. Kraft led off with a triple and scored on a single to left by Guthrie on a huge chopper over the third baseman. Guthrie moved to second on the second out, then scored on a throwing error by Zytko.

NJCU went ahead 4-1 in the sixth on a sacrifice by Kraft, scoring LoGatto who led off with a single and moved to third on senior first baseman Dan Berardi's 151st career hit.

Four runs on four hits in the top of the ninth put an exclamation mark on the NJCU win. Kraft singled, Castellano walked and Pulcine laced an RBI single to left. A sacrifice fly by sophomore right fielder Juan Pena made it 6-1. Sophomore left fielder Bill Feehan and LoGatto each followed with RBI singles. Stoots had an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to knock in Yanick after Kafer had kept the Raptors scoreless since the first inning.

NOTABLES:

• NJCU extended its single-season team record for doubles to 83 in 36 games.
• Junior catcher Jan Castellano threw out his 17th base runner this season in 47 stolen base attempts (24-39).

UP NEXT:

In a makeup of Friday's postponement, NJCU will host No. 2/6 ranked Rowan University (28-8, 11-6 NJAC) to complete that home-and-home series. Rowan won on Thursday in Glassboro, 14-0. NJCU will celebrate Senior Day, honoring four-year seniors Dan Berardi, Kyle Kafer and Mike Ramirez and two-year senior Dan Foley. Kafer, the chair of the NJAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, has a year of eligibility remaining and may return in 2019 as a graduate student.

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