Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Ewing, NJ – The College of New Jersey remained red-hot in the NJAC by sweeping a doubleheader from William Paterson University at George Ackerman Park. The Lions (18-12-1, 10-3) have now won seven straight conference games, propelling them into a first-place tie in the conference standings with Kean University.

TCNJ won the opening game 11-5 and topped that offensive performance with a 13-5 victory in game two. The Pioneers (18-14, 10-5) entered the weekend doubleheader atop the NJAC standings, but the combination timely hitting and solid defensive play of the Lions halted their six-game conference winning streak.

TCNJ 11, William Paterson 5
The top two NJAC teams traded punches throughout the opening contest, but TCNJ kept the offensive pressure on to pull away from the Pioneers late in the game.

William Paterson took an early 1-0 in the first, but TCNJ responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. James Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) singled to left before Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ/ Sayreville) ripped a hanging breaking ball to left-center for a double. Ruzich scored all the way from first when the Pioneers centerfielder struggled to come up with the ball clean. Toth scored on an RBI ground ball from Vince Mazzacarro (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) to give TCNJ an early 2-1 advantage.

TCNJ pushed the lead to 3-1 in bottom of the fifth. Ruzich laced a double off the left-center field wall to lead off the bottom of the fifth and advanced to third on Mazzacarro's base hit to left. An infield single by Chris Esperon (Union, NJ/Union Catholic) brought Ruzich home as the Lions gave starting pitcher Dan Ramos-Dominko (Hampton,NJ/North Hunderton) a two-run cushion.

Senior Adam Tussey (Brooklawn, NJ/Glouceter), who has been playing exceptional defense at second base, put his stamp on the offensive side in the sixth inning. After Anthony Palmiotto (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Township) singled to center with one out, Tussey belted a run-scoring double to left-center field scoring from first. Tussey moved up to third on a ball in the dirt and scored on Ruzich's third hit of the day.

The WPU bats came to life in the seventh, scoring four runs on five hits to knot the score 5-5. Rob Somers (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) doubled and Don Hays (Paramus, NJ/ Paramus) and Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, NJ/ Lyndhurst) followed with singles to cut the TCNJ lead to 5-2. Will Courter (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) lined a clutch, two-run single to center field and one out later, scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 5.

TCNJ answered back with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Anzelone (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) led off with a walk and Jared Tramutola (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Anzelone to second. Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) came in to pinch-run and scored on Palmiottos's line drive base hit to right field to re-take the lead 6-5. After Tussey grounded to second to move the runners up to second and third, a Pioneer balk made it 7-5. Ruzich then launched a two-run homer to left-center field to make it 9-5. Ruzich had a huge game at the plate racking up four hits, three RBIs and three runs scored.

The Lions tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth as MIke Galeotafiore (Bricxk, NJ/CBA) doubled in Esperon and scored later on a wild pitch.

Senior Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) earned the mound decision giving up just one run in an inning and two-thirds of relief. Ramos-Dominko threw six strong innings surrendering four runs, walking one and striking out three. Senior Eric Gerte (Cinnaminson,NJ/Cinnaminson) came in relief of Marchitelli (3-0) to record the final four outs of the game. Galeotafiore, Tussey and Palmiotto all had two hits for the Lions.

Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Twp) had a five-hit day for the Pioneers. Hays collected three hits while Dorio and Courter chipped in with two hits a piece.

TCNJ 13, William Paterson 5
The Lions opened the game with a growl and closed it with a roar as they scored five in the first and eight in the eighth to seal their second win of the day. Tussey's first career home run highlighted the eight-run outburst after William Paterson fought their way back to tie the game in the seventh inning.

Esperon blasted a first-inning grand slam to ignite the TCNJ offense. Tussey, Ruzich and Toth all walked before Mazzacarro ripped an RBI single. Esperon cleared the bases with one swing and five batters into game two, the Lions owned a 5-0 lead.

TCNJ starting pitcher Sean Stewart (Howell, NJ/Freehold Township) cruised through the first five innings yielding a single run in the fourth inning. William Paterson, however, stormed back with three runs in the sixth inning. Palestine and Somers singled to lead off the inning. Dorio followed with an RBI single to center field and Courter knocked in two with his second hit of the game.

Pioneer pitcher J.J. Moran (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) did a tremendous job coming in relief of starter Ryan Stiedl (Randolph, NJ/Morris Knolls). He held the Lions scoreless after their five-run outburst enabling the Pioneers to claw their back to tie the game 5-5 on an RBI double by Somers in the seventh.

The Lions offense came unglued in the eighth. Andrew Priece (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) led off with a single to left and advanced all the way to third when Moran threw away Galeotafiore's sacrifice bunt. Palmiotto tripled to right-center to put TCNJ back on top 7-5. Tussey then lined shot to left-center that cleared the 360-foot sign for a two-run home run. Priece roped his third hit of the game to drive in two and Galetafiore added another run-scoring single to put the game out of reach.

Pat Johnson (Hamilton Square/Steinert) pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn the mound decision. Johnson (2-0) retired all six batters he faced, striking out two. Moran (1-2) was the tough-luck loser for William Paterson going seven strong innings of relief allowing three earned runs on eight hits.

Somers had three hits for the Pioneers while Courter and Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, NJ/Northern Highlands) collected two hits each.

TCNJ is back in action tomorrow when it travels to Montclair State University for a doubleheader beginning at noon. William Paterson visits the College of State Island on Monday at 3:30.