Newark, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball defeated Rutgers-Newark 9-4 in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Lions (14-15, 7-8 NJAC) snapped a three-game skid and earned a pair of critical points in the NJAC standings. TCNJ remains in sixth place with three games conference games remaining on the schedule. The top six teams in the league advance to the 2015 NJAC Championship Tournament.
 
Freshman Joe Cirillo (Fairfield, NJ/Depaul Catholic) pitched six strong innings to register his fifth win of the season. The rookie right-hander is now 5-1 overall and gave up two runs, while striking out five. Junior Joe DiLorenzo (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) fanned three in two innings of relief before senior Ryan Carmon (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) struck out the side in the ninth.
 
TCNJ got on the board in the third when junior John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) walked, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a ground ball by classmate Mark Mari (Bayonne, NJ/Seton Hall Prep). The Lions picked up two unearned runs in the fourth to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
A four-run sixth inning gave TCNJ a 7-1 advantage. Freshman Steve Bucci (Washington Twp., NJ/Washington Twp.) delivered his first collegiate hit to left field that drove in a run. Mari then had the big blow, a two-run double to left-center field.
 
In the seventh, junior Patrick Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) hit a solo blast to right field to make it an 8-2 game. It was the team-leading fourth home run of the season for Roberts.
 
Mari drove in Rizzi (who had singled) in the ninth for his fourth run batted in of the afternoon. Rizzi crossed home plate three times to raise his season total to 38 runs scored.
 
Senior Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep), junior Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley), senior Michael Murray (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg) and Mari all had two hits.
 
The Lions and Scarlet Raiders will square off tomorrow (Friday) in George Ackerman Park at 3:30 p.m. The meeting will mark the final home game for seven TCNJ senior baseball players.