Box score

Ewing, NJ... The College of New Jersey baseball team won its fourth straight game defeating New Jersey City University 9-2 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match-up.

After dropping four consecutive conference games, the Lions (18-8, 5-5 NJAC) matched that number with a string of four victories to even their conference record at 5-5.

Senior Sean Stewart (Howell, NJ/Freehold Twp.) tossed his first complete game in nearly two years and notched his second straight conference win. Classmate Anthony Palmiotto (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Twp.) blasted his first career home run in the win, while junior Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) stroked a pair of RBI doubles to lead TCNJ's offense.

The Lions got on the board early as sophomore Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor North) was hit by a pitch and advanced third when senior Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) doubled to left-center. A ground ball by junior Jimmy Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) brought Kelly home for the first run of the game.

Galeotafiore followed with his first double of the day as he smoked a ball that beat the center fielder and the Lions had a quick 2-0 lead.

TCNJ tacked on runs in the second and third, but the Gothic Kinghts responded with single runs in the fourth and fifth to cut the deficit in half. Senior Michael Fiorentino (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) hit a sacrifice fly to score their first run and junior Francisco Ramirez (North Bergen, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) doubled to left field to plate sophomore Andrew Rivera (Edison, NJ/Edison), who had singled to lead off the inning.

With the score 5-2 in the seventh, Palmiotto put the game out of reach when he turned on a fastball and belted a three-run home run that landed on top of the batting cage. Palmiotto also scored twice in the game.

Stewart was economical with his pitches early on, which allowed him to be on the mound for the final out. He got 13 ground ball outs and struck out three, while issuing just two free passes over nine innings. Stewart's last complete game came during an 8-2 win over Alvernia University on May 15, 2009 in the NCAA tournament.

NJCU (6-23, 1-10) did outhit the Lions 10-9 in the game. Senior Jorge Gutierrez (Sewaren, NJ/Hudson Catholic), Forentino, and Ramirez all had two hits on the day.

TCNJ plays the second end of the home-and-home series with Gothic Knights tomorrow at NJCU at 3:30 p.m.