Mesa, AZ…The College of New Jersey baseball team swept a pair from their opponents on Monday as they bested Denison University and Alvernia College. Ranked No. 4 in Division III, TCNJ is now 5-0 on the year.
GAME #1 Box Score
The College of New Jersey’s junior short stop Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville) hit back to back three run home runs to pace the Lions in a 17-4 win over Denison University on Monday afternoon at Gene Autry Field. Ranked No. 4 in Division III, the Lions are now 4-0 on the young year, while Denison University drops to 1-2.
The junior college All-American at Middlesex C.C., went 3-5 with two runs scored and six RBI’s for the Lions, while TCNJ managed to collect 17 runs off 19 hits.
Senior first baseman, Blake Bullis (Delran, NJ/Delran) and senior designated hitter Gerard Haran (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge) each tallied three RBI’s for the Lions after they jumped out to a 14-0 lead heading into the middle of the third inning.
On the mound for the Lions, junior Mike Oliver (Crosswicks, NJ/Hamilton West) picked up the win for 
the Lions after five innings of work with seven strikeouts. He yielded just four hits and gave up only two earned runs in his season debut.
He got plenty of support on the mound from relievers, junior Matt Barrett (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) and sophomore Dan Ramos (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon). Barrett fanned seven batters in three innings of work, while Ramos fanned one in his one inning of work as the Lions’ closer.
GAME #2 Box Score
In an offensive see saw battle, TCNJ’s baseball team rallied and came away with the 15-9 win over the Alvernia Crusaders and turned a triple play to end the game and cut short a possible rally.
TCNJ’s junior outfielder Dave Mebs (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) had four RBI’s in the night cap and was 2-4 with two runs scored to help the Lions, while the Lions’ senior catcher Gerard Haran connected on a two run home run. Senior outfielder Jeff Botti (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) added a triple on the night with three RBI’s.
TCNJ led 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, before Alvernia added their first run of the game in the top of the second only to watch TCNJ tack on two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Alvernia knocked TCNJ’s starter junior Bob Buskett (Trenton, NJ/Notre Dame) from the game after 2.1 innings when they tacked on six runs in the top of the third and took a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the third. The Crusaders’ lead slipped away as the Lions picked up five runs in the bottom of the third and regained the lead for good, 9-7. Another five runs in the fourth for TCNJ gave the Lions a 14-8 lead.
With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Alvernia picked up a run and with no outs. The batter lined out to second and TCNJ threw the ball to first to turn the double play, but dropped the ball and them threw the ball back to second and managed to get the runner at second out before the runner on third headed home and was thrown out to end the game.
Senior first baseman Ben Reifsnyder (Wyomissing, PA/Wilson) added a triple for Alvernia and was 1-4 with three RBI’s, while freshman Steve DeBarberie (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner) added another triple and was 3-5 with a pair of runs scored. Senior Chris Raniere (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) added three RBI’s and 2-4 with two runs scored and a double.
Collecting the win in relief, senior Dave Waseleski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) pitched five innings and gave up just one earned run off four hits with three walks and two strikeouts to collect his first decision of the season.
Alvernia’s freshman Woody Blackburn (Coatesville, PA/Downingtown East) took the loss (0-1) after 2.2 innings of work with seven earned runs off four hits with six walks and a pair of strikeouts.
