Winter Haven, Fla … The College of New Jersey baseball team split a doubleheader with Fitchburg State on Sunday afternoon at the Chain of Lakes Baseball Complex.
 
After suffering a 10-7 defeat in the opener, the Lions (4-1) brushed off the loss to capture a 8-3 victory in the nightcap. Perhaps the most positive aspect of the game two win was how efficiently TCNJ played following a sloppy loss in the opener.
 
Freshman Michael Fischer (Trenton, NJ/Robbinsville) worked fast and threw strikes en route to a complete game win. He went seven strong innings, limiting the Falcons to four hits and issued just one walk in the seventh. Fischer's tempo and ability to throw strikes made a positive difference in the infield play as they accounted for 13 assists and a pair of double-play turns.
 
Game 1: Fitchburg State 10  TCNJ 7
 
The Lions were far too gratuitous in the opener, committing five errors, walking five, and hitting four batters. They outhit the Falcons 12-8, but Fitchburg took advantage of what they were given to hand TCNJ its first loss of the season.
 
The Lions took an early 2-0 in the second. Senior Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) got things going offensive for the second straight day. He launched a long triple to center field to open the second inning. Sophomore Zach Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) hit a ground ball to second that he legged out for a single and scored Turner for a 1-0 lead.
 
Junior Alex Christian (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) drew a walk and later came around to score on an infield error by the Falcons.
 
Fitchburg retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the inning assisted by three TCNJ errors. They tacked on another in the third when Drew Mazzeo singled to left to drive in Derrick Frazier.
 
TCNJ's offense came to life in the fifth, plating three runs to tie the game. Senior Patrick Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) delivered an RBI-single to right field and Turner followed with a single to plate Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central). Two batters later, Christian singled through the middle to score Turner and the game was even at 5.
 
The Falcons wasted no time in responding, scoring five runs on just two hits in the bottom of fifth. The Lions drew closer with singles runs in the sixth and seventh, but the Falcons held on to claim the opener.
 
Anderson, Roberts, Turner, and sophomore Mike Follet (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) each had two hits in the game. John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) scored twice and stole a pair of bases.
 
Senior Eric Teesdale (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) worked the first two innings and struck out three. Freshman Dylan Crowley (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) made his collegiate debut, pitching two innings, and sophomore Jacob Andersen (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) tossed a scoreless sixth.
 
Game 2: TCNJ  8  Fitchburg State 3
 
Fischer made the most out of his first collegiate start as he went the distance to lead the Lions to victory in the nightcap. The offense remained productive as six of their 10 hits came with runners in scoring position.
 
The Falcons drew first blood in the nightcap, touching Fischer for a run in the first. TCNJ quickly matched them with a run in the bottom of the inning. Rizzi was hit by a pitch, stole second, and eventually scored on a base hit up the middle from Turner.
 
Rizzi stroked a double down the left-field line to highlight a three-run second for TCNJ. Sophomore Ryan Fearon (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) followed with his first hit of the season and RBI of his career to plate Rizzi and extend the lead to 4-1.
 
One inning later, another rookie joined the hit/RBI column as Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) drove a ball back through the box. That chased home Shindler, who had doubled to right earlier with one out.
 
Freshman Erik Rano (Branchurg, NJ/Somerville) was the third Lion rookie to knock in a run with a line drive to left in the fifth. A pair of sacrifice flies in the sixth off the bat from Roberts and Turner afforded Fischer more cushion to close out the win. Fitchburg scratched out a run in the seventh, but a short fly ball to left ended the contest, securing the win for the rookie right-hander.
 
Rizzi finished with two hits, scored three more runs, two RBI, and swiped two bags. Shindler stayed hot going 2-for-4, and Rano ripped two hits.

TCNJ returns to the diamond tomorrow when they take on Babson College at 3:30 p.m