Box Score

Ewing, NJ …Alvernia University brought an end to The College of New Jersey baseball team's four game winning streak as the Crusaders pulled out a 7-2 win at George Ackerman Park on Wednesday.

The teams were tied 2-2 after the first inning with Alvernia scoring the deciding run in the top of the fifth inning, before adding another in the eighth and three more in the ninth. The win bumped the Crusaders to 21-7 on the year.

After the visitors scored twice in the top of the first, the Lions (12-13) tied the game up in the bottom of the first with a two-run double off the bat of senior Chris Esperon (Union, NJ/Union Catholic). Freshman Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor North) singled before junior Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) doubled to left field. Esperon drove in his team-leading 38th and 39th runs with a shot to right-center.

Alvernia manufactured that deciding run in the fifth inning when junior Nole Saylor (Boytertown, PA/Boyertown) doubled, advanced to third on a fly ball, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chuck Krichling (Chesterfield, NJ/Northern Burlington).

The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when shortstop Chris Ray (Exton, PA/West Chester Henderson) hit the second pitch of the game over the left-center field wall. They added another run in the inning to claim a 2-0 lead before TCNJ got a chance to step into the batter's box.

After a rocky first inning, sophomore Rick Nuel (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) settled in surrendering two runs tossed three solid innings for TCNJ giving up two runs on a pair of hits.

Senior Brian Longo (Uncasville, CT/Montville) picked up the win in relief for Alvernia.

Esperon finished with a pair of hits for the Lions.

TCNJ is off on Thursday before returning to New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Friday hosting Richard Stockton College in a 3:30 p.m. contest.