Box Score


Ewing, NJ … An outstanding effort by four members of The College of New Jersey pitching staff led the Lions to a 2-1 victory over Widener University on Tuesday afternoon in George Ackerman Park.

The win was the sixth straight for TCNJ (11-4) as a pair of early runs was enough to slip past the Pride (11-9). Sophomore John Spinapont (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) earned his first win of the season, pitching three innings of sharp relief. Freshman Ryan Duran (River Edge, NJ/River Dell Regional) gave the Lions another quality start, while senior Brendan Kelly (Butler, NJ/Butler) and junior Connor Smith (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) took care of business in the eighth and ninth.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the first. Senior Joe Dispoto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) got the rally going when he stroked his 100^th career hit to left-center field with one out. He advanced to second on fielder's choice and moved to third on an infield single from sophomore Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley). Junior Josh Limon (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) drove a 1-0 pitch to center field to score Dispoto and put host the on top.

TCNJ plated a run without the luxury of a hit in the third. Turner reached on a free pass and moved to second on a wild pitch. He raced to third on a deep fly ball to center and crossed home plate when sophomore Pat Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field for a 2-0 lead.

Duran left the game with a 2-0 lead after four. He gave up just one hit and struck out three. Duran now has a 1.32 earned run average in 13.2 innings pitched this season.

The Pride got on the board in the fifth. Matt Scherer singled to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. He moved to third on a ground ball to short and raced home on a wild pitch.

Spinapont took over on the mound and dusted off a run in the fifth to keep the Widener offense in check in the sixth and seventh. He scattered a pair of hits, an earned run, and struck out two to gain the decision.

A pair of TCNJ conference starters took command in the eight and the ninth. Kelly retired the side in order in the eighth and Smith went 1-2-3 in the ninth for his first save. Both pitchers struck out a batter during their inning of work.

Turner was the lone player in the game to have two hits. The Pride were held to three hits, while the Lions managed just five, but it was enough to keep their winning streak going.
TCNJ hosts Rutgers-Newark on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in their first New Jersey Athletic Conference match-up.