Box Score
Ewing, NJ - A game-ending double-play stymied a late rally from The College of New Jersey baseball team as Messiah College defeated the Lions 5-4 on Tuesday afternoon at George Ackerman Park.
The Falcons (8-16-1) received a strong pitching effort from freshman Thor Arnesen (Princeton, NJ/Rutgers Prepartory School) as the rookie right-hander limited TCNJ (8-11-1) to three runs on five hits over seven hitting. His mound victory overshadowed an exceptional performance by Lions southpaw Pat Johnson (Hamilton Square, NJ/Steinert). The senior left-hander threw five innings of shutout relief, allowing three hits while striking out seven.
Messiah notched two runs in the opening frame off TCNJ starting pitcher Greg Spatz (Oakhurst,NJ/Ocean Township). They tacked on a third run in the second inning when freshman John Brubaker (Lancaster,PA/Living World Word Academy) dropped down a suicide squeeze to plate Sam Tajiri (Allentown, PA/ Parkland), who had doubled to lead off the inning.
Trailing 5-1 entering the 7th inning, TCNJ head coach Dean Glus replaced his entire starting line-up in an effort to shake up an otherwise stagnant offense. The Lions responded with a three-run eighth inning, highlighted by a run-scoring double to the left field corner off the bat of sophomore Gary Fare (Milltown, NJ/St. John Vianney). Jared Tramutola (Jackson, NJ/Toms River South) also singled and scored in the inning.
The Lions threatened in the bottom of the ninth when freshman Pat Doyle (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) singled and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Junior Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) laid down a sacrifice bunt and Doyle slid in safely at third base when the Falcons attempted to get the lead runner. After a strikeout, Messiah closer Elliot Thomas (Carlisle, PA/California Univ. of Pennsylvania) induced Tramutola into a 4-6-3 twin-killer to earn his first save of the season.
The Lions suit up for another non-conference game on Thursday, April 2 traveling to Moravian College to take on the Greyhounds at 3:30 p.m. Messiah is back in action on Wednesday hosting Johns Hopkins University
