Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Jersey City, NJ … Good teams win the games they are supposed to win, and that is exactly what The College of New Jersey baseball team did in Jersey City on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Lions (15-5, 4-1 NJAC) swept a doubleheader at New Jersey City University by scores of 5-2 and 6-5. The victories put TCNJ in a tie for first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference with Rowan University and Rutgers University-Camden, while the Gothic Knights fell to 1-4 in the conference and 7-12 overall.
 
One day after having their eight-game winning streak snapped, the Lions started another as they have now won 10 of their last 11 contests. The 15-5 record is the best 20-game start for TCNJ since 2008, the first season Dean Glus served as head coach.
 
The Lions received a terrific pitching performance from sophomore Steven Volpe (Cherry Hill, NJ/Eastern Regional) in the opener and battled from behind in game two to complete the sweep. Sophomore John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) had a big day at the plate, compiling seven hits and scoring three times in the doubleheader.
 
Game 1:  TCNJ 5  NJCU 2
 
The Lions erupted for three runs in the top of the first. Rizzi and senior Joe Dispoto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) stroked back-to-back singles before advancing to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from junior Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep). A throwing error allowed Rizzi to score and a base hit by Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) plated Dispoto. Turner crossed home plate off a single from junior Michael Murray (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg) and Volpe was staked with a three-run lead.
 
The sophomore right-hander was in command throughout the game. He went eight innings and allowed just two hits. Volpe did hit four Gothic Knight batters in the game, but was never in any real danger.
 
TCNJ tacked on single runs in the third and seventh to stretch their lead to 5-0. Run-scoring singles from Murray and Cocuzza provided enough cushion as junior Michael Correa (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) recorded the final three outs to secure the win.
 
Game 2: TCNJ 6  NJCU 5
 
For the second straight contest, the Lions pushed three runs across in the opening frame to take an early lead. Rizzi singled and stole second before racing home on a single to right-center off the bat of Cocuzza. With the bases loaded, sophomore Mark Mari (Bayonne, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) lined a base hit through the right side to score Cocuzza and Turner.
 
NJCU did battle back, scoring a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 4-3 lead. TCNJ starter John Spinapont (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) tossed a scoreless fifth, which ended with a 6-4-3 twin-killing. Spinapont went five innings and struck out four, but did not factor into the decision.
 
Trailing 4-3 in the seventh, TCNJ had its first two runners on as Dispoto walked and Cocuzza singled. Turner put down a sacrifice bunt and it was thrown away, allowing both baserunners to score. Turner later came home on a wild pitch and the Lions took advantage of some shaky Gothic Knight defense to tally three runs on just one hit.
 
Sophomore Ryan Conklin (Sussex, NJ/Highpoint Regional) pitched two and two-third innings of scoreless relief to garner his first collegiate win. NJCU did get a run back in the ninth and had the tying run on second base, but junior Ryan Carmon (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) recorded the final out of the game to earn his first save of 2014.
 
Rizzi had four hits in the game and Mari finished with three safeties. Junior Josh Limon (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) and Cocuzza each had two hits in the win.
 
TCNJ visits Rutgers-Newark tomorrow, which is a make-up from their rainout on Friday. The game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium.