Box score

Newark, NJ ... The College of New Jersey baseball team outslugged Rutgers University-Newark to gain an 11-9 victory in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament.

Senior Chris Esperon (Union, NJ/Union Catholic) homered in his first two at bats of the game, while freshman Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor North) hit the first home run of his collegiate career to lead the Lions (21-17). TCNJ will now play Kean University in Union, NJ on Thursday, May 6 at 3:30 p.m. The Cougars defeated Richard Stockton College 8-7.

The game featured a pair of aces squaring off as junior Connor Henderson (Monmouth, Jct., NJ/South Brunswick) took the mound for the Lions boasting a 7-1 record. Bill Cerruti, who has won the last two NJAC Pitcher of the Week selections, started for the Scarlet Raiders. But it was an unpredictable game that included a 22-minute rain delay at Bears Stadium.

TCNJ pushed across single runs in the first, second, and third innings, but Rutgers Newark answered back with three in the third on a pair of home runs. After the Scarlet Raiders took the lead 7-5 with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh.

Kelly started the inning off with a double down the left-field line. After Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) singled and Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) was intentionally walked, sophomore Jimmy Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) stroked a run-scoring double. Freshman Nick Cifelli (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) followed with a two-run single and TCNJ took a 9-5 lead.

The Lions tacked on two more in the eight when Kelly homerehttp://www.sidearmstats.com/kean/baseball/index.htmd to left field. Galeotafiore then drove in Zegarski, who had doubled and scored his second run of the game.

Senior A.J. Adamczyk (Brielle, NJ/Manasquan) earned his second win in as many games. Junior Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) struck out three in two innings and pitched a perfect ninth inning to close the game out.

Ruzich finished with three hits as seven TCNJ starters had multiple hits as the offense compiled 16 safeties in the game. 

Note: Thursday's game at Kean University will be available on live stats. Click on the link below to watch the game live.

http://www.sidearmstats.com/kean/baseball/index.htm