Box score

Ewing, NJ... The College of New Jersey baseball team manufactured its eighth straight win defeating New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Richard Stockton College 6-2.

After dropping five of their first six games of the conference schedule, the Lions now own an NJAC season record of 8-5 (22-8 overall) heading into the final five leagues games this weekend.

TCNJ was efficient on offense, capitalizing on scoring opportunities when they surfaced. Only one of the Lions six runs came off of a hit. They manufactured five runs on three sacrifice flies, a double-play groundout, and passed ball to churn out their 22nd win of the season.

Senior Sean Stewart (Howell, NJ/Freehold Twp.) won his third straight start. Coming off a complete game a week ago, Stewart (4-1) was equally impressive. Following a one-hour rain delay, the 6' 7” right-hander surrendered just one earned run in eight innings of work, striking out six and walking two Ospreys.

Senior Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) pitched the final inning, striking out a pair of Stockton hitters with an overpowering fastball.

The Ospreys (18-13, 4-9 NJAC) took an early lead when junior Dan McGuckin (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.) lofted a sacrifice fly to plate sophomore Shawn Kessler (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional).

The Lions answered back with a run in the second when sophomore Nick Cifelli (Ewing, NJ/Ewing), who laid down a perfect bunt for a single, eventually scored on a passed ball.

After taking a 2-1 lead with a run in the third, TCNJ stretched the lead to 4-1. Sophomore Andrew Priece (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) doubled to deep left field to score Cifelli, who had singled. Senior Anthony Palmiotto (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Twp.) stroked a base hit, and sophomore Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-North) lifted a sacrifice fly to score Priece.

A pair of sacrifice flies off the bats of Cifelli and Priece pushed the Lions lead to 6-1. Stockton touched Stewart for a run in the eighth on an RBI double by freshman Travis Marra (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East).

Cifelli, Kelly, and senior Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) each had two hits for TCNJ. Priece drove in a pair and Kelly stole his team-leading 16th base of the season.

Despite wet conditions, TCNJ played errorless baseball in the win.

The Lions have tomorrow off before visiting Richard Stockton College on Friday for a 3:30 p.m. game. They return home to George Ackerman Park on Saturday, April 30 to square off against Montclair State University in a conference doubleheader.