Box Score
Ewing, NJ – Despite clutch home runs off the bats of senior Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville) and freshman Andrew Priece (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan), The College of New Jersey baseball team suffered another mid-week setback as the Lions dropped a 10-8 decision to Widener University.
The Pride (13-11-1) generated ample offense plating 10 runs on 16 hits, including four by sophomore Tom DeAngelis (Pottstown, PA/St. Pius X). They were also the beneficiary of four TCNJ errors.
Down 4-1 in the third inning, Toth walked and Vince Mazzaccaro (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) collected the first of his four hits on the afternoon. With two outs, Priece drilled a fastball over the left-center field fence to knot the game at 4-4. It was the third home run of the season for Priece.
After Widener took the lead back in the top of the fourth, TCNJ first baseman James Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning. Toth stayed with an 0-2 breaking pitch and drilled it over the center field fence for his third homer of the season giving TCNJ a 6-5 lead.
The momentum was short-lived, however, as the Pride scored four times in the top of the sixth to go up 9-6. Losing pitcher Eric Lewis (Wantagh, NY/W.C. Mepham) allowed only one earned run in two innings of relief while striking out a pair. Junior Sean Flanagan (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) also threw well out of the bullpen giving up just one run in three and two-thirds innings while striking out three.
The Lions clawed back scoring a run in the seventh and eighth innings as senior Adam Tussey (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) and junior Ryan Anzelone (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) knocked in runs, but it wasn't enough as their record dipped below .500. The Pride's Craig Hicks (Dallastown, PA/Dallastown) earned the mound victory in relief.
TCNJ will be back in action tomorrow as it travels to Pomona, NJ for a conference showdown with Richard Stockton College. Widener will host Commonwealth Conference opponent Arcadia College on Friday, April 9.
