Box Score

 Reading, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball team had its four-game winning streak snapped as they dropped a 9-4 decision at Alvernia University on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Lions (6-8) rallied in the middle innings to take a 4-2 lead, but a five-run fifth by the Crusaders (12-4) turned out to be the difference as they captured their 12^th win of the season.
 
Down 2-0 in the fourth, the Lions got on the scoreboard when sophomore Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) doubled to left-center field and came home on single to right-center by senior Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor).
 
They jumped ahead 4-2 in the fifth, capitalizing on a pair of defensive errors by Alvernia. Right fielder Michael Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech) highlighted the inning with an RBI-triple. It was the 101^st run batted in for Murphy in his career. He later scored when freshman Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) singled up the middle to put TCNJ up by two.
 
Alvernia responded by erupting for five runs in the bottom of the fifth, all coming with two outs. Junior Matt Patterson roped a two-run double to tie the game. Two more base hits and a throwing error led to three more runs and a 7-4 advantage for the host.
 
A single by Chris Ray and Patterson's second double of the game put runners at second and third in the seventh. Kevin Bailey came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit, two-run single and provide the Crusaders with a five-run cushion.
 
Kelly and Cocuzza each finished with two hits and an RBI on the afternoon. Senior Robert Graber (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) pitched the first four innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out a batter. He left the game with a 4-2 lead.
 
Freshman Evan Edelman (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) pitched two innings in relief and rookie Michael Correa (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp) also got an inning of work. Sophomore Dave Rondesko (South River, NJ/South River) tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth for TCNJ.
 
The Lions return to George Ackerman Park tomorrow (Thursday) when they host Ursinus College (3-10) at 3:30 p.m.