Box Score
Ewing, NJ – Freshman Mike Fallon (Edison, NJ/Bishop Ahr) put forth a dominant pitching performance against Stevens Institute of Technology giving The College of New Jersey a 4-0 victory at George Ackerman Park and their 20th win of the season.
Fallon (1-1) was in total command throughout his seven and one-third innings of work. The freshman left-hander limited the Ducks offense to just five hits while striking out two picking up his first collegiate win. Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) came on in short relief to complete the Lions' first shutout of 2009 and notch his second save of the season.
The Tuesday afternoon contest quickly evolved into a pitcher's duel as Stevens starting pitcher Dan Anunziatta (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) matched Fallon's efforts through the first five innings holding TCNJ (20-13-1) scoreless entering the sixth. The Lions broke through in the bottom of the sixth as James Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) walked followed by a Vince Mazzacarro (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) base hit to right-center. Chris Esperon (Union, NJ/Union Catholic) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third before Ryan Anzelone (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) reached on an error to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Gary Fare (Milltown, NJ/St. John Vianney) ended the deadlock by plating Ruzich with a fielder's choice. The Ducks then mishandled a pick-off allowing Mazzacarro to score extending the Lions lead to 2-0.
Stevens Tech (12-17) threatened to score in the top of the seventh when Tom Phillips (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) was hit by a pitch and Chris Grimes (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) singled to left field with one out. Marchitelli entered the game from the bullpen with one out and induced the first batter he faced to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The Lions added two insurance runs in the eighth inning on an RBI single from junior Jared Tramultola (Jackson, NJ/Toms River South) and a run-scoring double off the bat of catcher Matt Baumann (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge).
Esperson and Mazzacarro had two hits on the day for TCNJ while Grimes and Dan Silva (Boonton, Twp., N/Mountain Lakes) stroked two a piece for the Ducks.
TCNJ is back in action tomorrow when it travels to Elizabethtown College for a non-conference game while Stevens Tech visits Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Both games are slated for 3:30 starts.
