Box score

Ewing, NJ... The College of New Jersey baseball team gritted its way to a 5-3 win over William Paterson University on Monday afternoon at George Ackerman Park.

The Lions (17-8, 4-5 NJAC) trailed 3-0 early on and committed four errors in the game, but senior Connor Henderson (Monmouth Jct., NJ/South Brunswick) stayed the course to earn his fifth win of the season. The right-hander went eight innings and gave up three runs (all unearned), scattering four hits and striking out four.

Senior Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) pitched the ninth to notch his seventh save of the season.

Sophomore Nick Cifelli (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) had a pair of big hits in the game, drove in two runs, and scored twice. Sophomore Michael Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech) also had two hits and scored twice while junior Jimmy Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) added a pair of safeties in the win.

The Pioneers took advantage of some shaky defensive play by TCNJ to put a three-spot on the board in the second. Freshman Ken O'Donnell (Teaneck, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) singled to start the inning, advanced to second on a throwing error, and came around to score on the second error of the inning.

Senior Marc Palestina (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) put down a perfect squeeze to plate Scott Ptaszinksi (Wharton, NJ/Morris Hills) and freshman A.J. Flores (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) delivered a run-scoring single to give WPU a 3-0 advantage.

A smart baserunning play by Ruzich led to a two-out, three-run rally in the fifth for the Lions. With Ruzich on first and one out, catcher Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) hit a hard groundball to the second baseman. Ruzich stopped in his tracks, forcing the infielder to flip to second allowing Galeotafiore to beat the throw at first to keep the inning alive. Murphy singled to right and then Cifelli drilled a two-run double over the right fielder's head.

Sophomore Andrew Priece (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) followed with a groundball to short that pulled the first baseman off the bag. Cifelli never stopped hustling and came around to score giving TCNJ a 4-3 lead.

The Lions tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Murphy singled to right and then was running on the pitch when Cifelli ripped a single to right. The ball was mishandled in the outfield allowing Murphy to score from first.

Henderson seemed to get better as the game progressed. Only three runners reached base on him after the second inning and a only one advanced past first. It was the 20th career win for Henderson, tying him for fourth all-time in program history along with pitching coach Bob Buskett '08.

Marchitelli struck out the last two hitters looking and captured his 11th career save. That is third all-time and two behind the program record held by Nick Maddalena '02.

Senior Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) and freshman Joe Dispoto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) also had two hits for TCNJ.

Flores and O'Donnell each had two hits for the Pioneers.

TCNJ is back in action tomorrow hosting Manhattanville College at 3:30 p.m. at George Ackerman Park.