Box score

Ewing, NJ... Heads-up baserunning by sophomore Michael Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech) led The College of New Jersey baseball team to a late-inning 3-2 win over Rutgers University-Camden in New Jersey Athletic Conference action at George Ackerman Park.

The Lions (16-8, 3-5 NJAC) received an exceptional pitching performance from sophomore Eric Lewis (Wantagh, NY/W.C. Mepham) as they claimed their second conference game over the Scarlet Raptors (9-14, 1-7 NJAC) in as many days.

With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth, Murphy was on second base with two outs. Senior Anthony Palmiotto (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Twp.) hit a ground ball down the first baseline which Rutgers-Camden first baseman C.J. Mooney (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) left his feet to make a fine stop. But Palmiotto beat the throw at first and Murphy never slowed down, scoring all the way from second to give the Lions the go-ahead run.

Lewis (3-1) and senior right-hander Dan Fimiani (Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) were locked up in a terrific pitcher's duel. The Lions finally broke through in the sixth when Murphy walked with two outs. Sophomore Andrew Priece (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) then legged out an infield single before sophomore Nick Cifelli (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) lined a base hit to left-center to plate Murphy.

The Scarlet Raptors responded with a pair of two-out runs in the seventh. Sophomore Nicco Esgro (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) dropped in his second hit of the day to left-center and eventually scored on a base hit through the middle off the bat of Mooney. Sophomore George Spingler (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester) followed with a long double to left, giving RUC a 2-1 advantage.

Sophomore Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-North) provided a spark in the seventh leading off with a base hit. He stole second base and advanced to third when the ball kicked off his leg into the outfield. Junior Jimmy Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly) came through with a clutch, two-out single to right-center to knot the game at two runs apiece.

Lewis had his best game of the year throwing eight innings of four-hit baseball, allowing just two runs while striking out three. Senior Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) pitched the ninth for his sixth save of the season. Rutgers-Camden did get a runner on base with two outs, but catcher Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) threw out the runner attempting to steal second to end the game.

Galeotafiore had two hits in the game and Murphy scored twice. Lewis also picked off his fourth runner of the season.

Fimiani did not factor into the decision, but tossed seven strong innings for Rutgers-Camden. On the day, he gave up just two runs while scattering seven hits and striking out two.

TCNJ is back in action tomorrow playing host to William Paterson University in an NJAC doubleheader beginning at 11:30 a.m. Between games, the Trenton State College 1991 World Series runner-up team will be honored in a special ceremony.