Box Score


Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball team dropped an 11-2 decision to Alvernia University on Wednesday afternoon at George Ackerman Park.
 
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Lions (11-8) as they will now set their sights on their New Jersey Athletic Conference opener at home this Saturday.
 
The Crusaders (15-6-1) won their seventh straight contest, rapping out 15 hits and receiving a strong outing from starting pitcher Andrew Kirk (3-0). Alvernia took advantage of some shaky defense from TCNJ, who committed a season-high six errors on the day.
 
The Crusaders took command early in the game, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single to center field off the bat of Chris Ray. Noel Saylor laced a run-scoring double to left-center to highlight a two-run third inning as the Crusaders took a 3-0 lead.
 
The Lions cut into the lead in the third as left fielder Joe Dispoto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) led off with a single, followed by a bunt base hit from second baseman Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-North). Center field Nick Cifelli (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) walked to load the bases, before Jimmy Ruzich (Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy) brought home Dispoto and Kelly with a fielder's choice (and error).
 
But Alvernia tallied eight unanswered runs, scoring in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth innings. Saylor finished the day 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two runs batted in. His solo home run down the left-field line capped the scoring for the visitors.
 
TCNJ managed just five hits off Kirk, who was in command through seven innings. He struck out eight and surrendered just four hits.
 
Ray, Brian Witkowski, Eric Domitrovits, and Richie Ricciard also finished with two hits for the Crusaders.
 
Lions' freshman Jacob Dewitt (Florence, NJ/Florence) pitched an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief in his debut on the mount. Rookie Benito Gonzalez (Perth Amboy, NJ/Princeton) pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out two.
 
The Lions will take on Kean University this Saturday to open their NJAC schedule. The first game of that double-header is slated for 11:30 at George Ackerman Park.