Chandler, AZ –The College of New Jersey's baseball team opened the 2009 season on Friday as the Lions took to the field in Arizona in the Russ Matt Greater Phoenix Challenge. TCNJ would drop the opener to Wartburg College 8-2, but rebounded with a 6-3 win over Rochester Institute of Technology.

Game #1 Wartburg 8-2 TCNJ
 
The Lions were the victims of a few key mental mistakes as they took to the field for the first time in 2009, but were able to rebound well. Lion newcomers Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/CBA) and James Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberley Academy) added their first hits to pace the Lions as both added doubles for the Lions. Senior Adam Tussey (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) went 2-4 at the plate with an RBI. Junior Jared Tramutola (Jackson, NJ/Toms River South) would go 1-3 with an RBI as well.

On the mound for the Lions, senior Dan Anderson (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) suffered the first loss of his career in his four season with the Lions and is now 0-1 this year and 4-1 on his career in 14 appearances. Anderson worked 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Senior Pat Johnson (Hamilton Square, NJ/Steinert) worked 2.1 innings in relief, yielding two earned runs off three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Wartburg's senior Jerrold Martin threw a complete game with eight strikeouts in earning the win.

Game # 2 TCNJ 6-3 RIT

TCNJ trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning when senior short stop Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville) tripled to left centerfield driving in sophomore Anthony Palmiotto (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Township) to tie the score at 3. Senior Vince Mazzaccaro (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) would collect a single in the hole between third and short to drive in Toth and give the Lions the go ahead run. Junior Chris Esperon (Union, NJ/Union Catholic) reached on a throwing error by the
Tigers' pitcher that would allow Mazzaccaro to score from first on the error.

The Lions were not done as Ruzich would collect and RBI single to drive in Esperon and give the Lions the 6-3 lead after pushing four runs across the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Sophomore Sean Stewart (Howell, NJ/Freehold Township) made his return to the mound after missing last season with a back injury and pitched well. He worked six innings with just four hits and no earned runs, while striking out six but did not get a decision. Sophomore Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) would collect the win in relief as he worked two innings with one hit and one strikeout to improve to 1-0. Senior closer Eric Gertie (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) earned his first save of the year after one inning of work with a walk as Ruzich and Tussey turned the Lions' first double play of the season to end the game. Gertie, who led the Lions with his 19 appearances and nine saves a year ago, now has 10 career saves, just three shy of TCNJ's career mark of 13 held by Nick Maddalena (1999-2002).