Reading, Pa … Junior Evan Edelman (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) produced a masterful pitching performance as The College of New Jersey baseball team shut out Alvernia University 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Edelman scattered seven hits over nine innings to stifle a reputable Crusader offense. He was supported by outstanding defensive play as the Lions (6-5) played errorless baseball and registered three double plays late in the game en route to their sixth win of the season.
 
Alvernia entered the contest averaging more than seven runs per game and hitting at a .322 clip. But Edelman (2-1) struck out five, issued no walks and permitted only two batters to reach second base over nine innings of work. He has now allowed just one earned run over 22 innings this season for a miniscule 0.41 earned run average.
 
TCNJ got on board in the opening frame without the benefit of a hit. Leadoff hitter John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) and sophomore CJ Gearhart (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) walked and moved up to second and third following a balk. Senior Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Rizzi for a 1-0 lead. It was Cocuzza's team-leading RBI of the season.
 
Edelman was sailing along, and with one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ben Martin singled to right field. A 5-4-3 double play ended the inning and put the Lions back up at the plate.
 
TCNJ tacked on two more runs in the seventh. They took advantage of some sloppy defense by the Crusaders to give Edelman some breathing room. Sophomore Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) dropped down a bunt for a base hit and continued to second after an errant throw by the catcher. Rizzi then executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner. On the play, the pitcher threw the ball away, allowing Varone to score the second run of the game.
 
With two outs in the inning, junior Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) doubled to right-center to score Rizzi and the Lions increased their advantage to 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Alvernia had a runner on first with one out. Edelman faced clean-up hitter Ben Sawyer and induced a ground ball into the glove of Cocuzza, who turned an unassisted double play to end the inning.
 
After a scoreless top of the eighth, Chris Burns stroked a base hit to left to open the inning. Cameron Coons followed with a line drive to third that was speared by senior Mike Murray (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg). He fired to first to double off Coons and TCNJ had its third twin killing in three innings.
 
The Crusaders put runners on first and second with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but Edelman got Richie Ricciardi to fly out to left and secure his first collegiate complete-game shutout.
 
The Lions managed just five hits in the game. Junior Patrick Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) was 2-for-5, while Rizzi scored a pair of runs.
 
TCNJ hosts Ursinus College in their home opener tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. in George Ackerman Park. The Lions open New Jersey Athletic Conference play this Saturday, March 28 when they take Kean University in a home double header starting at 11:30 a.m.