Lake Wales, Fla … .The College of New Jersey baseball team registered its first win of the season, defeating St. Norbert College 12-1 in the back-end game of a double header on Sunday afternoon in Lake Wales, Fla.
 
After dropping the opener 3-1, the Lions (1-2) picked itself up off the mat and erupted for 12 runs on offense. TCNJ received solid pitching in both contests and will look to make it two straight victories tomorrow when they square off against Centenary College at 9 a.m. at Chain of Lakes baseball facility.
 
Game 1: St. Norbert 3  TCNJ 1

A suicide squeeze followed by a two-out single plated two runs and broke a 1-1 in the seventh as St. Norbert took the opener 3-1.
 
TCNJ sophomore Steven Volpe (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) pitched effectively in the loss, striking out six in six and one-third innings. Junior Brett Nohr matched Volpe's effort and went the distance for a complete-game victory. He scattered six hits, struck out two and walked none.
 
Volpe battled to work out of trouble on several occasions during his opening start. In the second, a hit batsman and a single gave the Green Knights first and third with nobody out. Volpe settled the matter by striking out the next three batters to end the inning.
 
TCNJ got on the board in the bottom of the second frame. Junior Pat Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) drilled a double over the right fielder's head and advanced to third on a single through the shortstop hole by first baseman Josh Limon (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley). Senior Michael Murray (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg) drove in Roberts with a fielder's choice and the Lions owned their first lead of the season.
 
It was short-lived as St. Norbert strung together four consecutive singles to open the third and tie the game. Volpe fought through it, however, and received some help from a battery mate in left field. Turner, who caught yesterday's game, threw a bullet from left to cut down a runner at the plate trying to tag up to keep the contest tied 1-1.
 
TCNJ got another great defensive play to the game deadlocked. With a runner on third and two outs in the fourth, Troy Rottier hit a line drive destined for right-center field. Second baseman Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) dove to his right and speared it out of the air to end the inning.
 
In the seventh, Sean Grant led off with a single to right field. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and an errant throw left everyone safe with nobody out. Another bunt advanced the runners and a successful suicide squeeze by Brandon Kazinski plated the winning run. A Green Knight single added an insurance as they captured the opening game 3-1.
 
Roberts finished with two hits in the game for the Lions.
 
Game 2: TCNJ 12  St. Norbert 1
 
A five-run, first inning gave junior Evan Edelman (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) a comfortable cushion for his first start of 2015. The right-hander took advantage and went six innings, surrendering just one unearned run for the victory. Edelman scattered seven hits and struck out five in his season debut.
 
Turner had a big game, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in. Cocuzza stroke a single and a double and drove in two, while John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) and Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) each crossed home plate twice.
 
The offense got a little help from the opposing pitching as they had trouble finding the strike zone from the start. Lion batters drew six free passes in the opening frame to drench the basepaths. Turner delivered a bases loaded, two-run single to give TCNJ a 2-0 advantage. Varone also knocked in a run with a line drive to left-center, and before the dust had settled, the Lions were in front 5-0 before taking the field.
 
While Edelman continued to register outs, the offense manufactured single runs in the second and third to extend the lead. In the fourth, TCNJ loaded the bases with nobody out. Murray turned on a fastball for a two-run double to left to open the game up. An RBI groundout by Matt Facas (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) pushed the count to double digits.
 
A Cocuzza double down the left field line drove in two and capped the scoring for TCNJ in the sixth. Edelman worked into the seventh, but was relieved by junior left-hander Joe DiLorenzo (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep). He recorded the final three outs (including a strikeout) to seal the Lions first win of the year.