Washington, Pa. … A ninth-inning rally fell a run shy as The College of New Jersey baseball team dropped a 4-3 decision to top-seeded La Roche College in its second game of the 2016 NCAA Mideast Regional tournament at Ross Memorial Park in Washington, Pa.
 
The Lions (31-11) made it exciting in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs with two outs to cut the lead to one. But the Redhawks were able to secure the final out to move to 2-0 in the tourney.
 
TCNJ will now face St. Joseph's College of Long Island tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. The Golden Eagles defeated Johns Hopkins University, 3-0 earlier in the day. La Roche (38-9) advanced to the winner's bracket final against the winner of the Wooster vs. Randolph-Macon College game this evening.
 
La Roche starting pitcher Regis Sauer did an exceptional job on the mound, pitching out of trouble in multiple innings to move to 9-0 on the season. The Lions outhit the Redhawks 8-7, but left nine runners on base in the loss.
 
"First of all you have to give credit to La Roche (College). They are a very good baseball team," said Head Coach Dean Glus. "What has made us so good all season is getting that run in from third base. When you have opportunities against a good team like La Roche, you have to take advantage of those opportunities. We just didn't get it done today, but that's baseball.
 
"But I have a lot of faith in our guys, and we will bounce back tomorrow and be ready to play."
 
The Redhawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. A pair of walks, a double, and a two-run single gave Sauer a comfortable cushion prior to taking the mound.
 
After a rocky start, TCNJ right-hander Brandon Zachary (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) settled in to pitch six scoreless frames in the next seven innings. He finished with four strikeouts in eight and one-third innings of work.
 
"Our pitching staff has a bulldog mentality, and my mindset after the first inning was to go out there, keep my focus, bear down, and throw strikes," Zachary said.
 
TCNJ answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) hit a ground ball to the shortstop hole and beat the throw. He quickly stole second for his nation-leading 41^st stolen base of the season.
 
Sophomore Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) followed with an infield single and Rizzi raced home on a fielder's choice by senior Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley).
 
Rizzi did all he could do to put TCNJ in position to win. He reached base all five times he appeared at the plate, stole four bases, stroked three singles, drove in a run, and scored twice.
 
"I definitely take pride in getting on first base to get things going," said Rizzi. "Whatever it takes, get hit by a pitch or anything else. The goal is to get on first base."
 
The Lions' middle infield flashed some leather throughout the game. Shortstop Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) and second baseman Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) turned a pair of 6-4-3 double plays in the third and fifth innings. In the eighth, the duo combined again to turn a 4-6-3 twin killing, giving the Lions 46 double plays on the season.
 
In the ninth, sophomore Mike Follet (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) reach on an error. He moved up on a fielder's choice and Rizzi singled to left to score Follet. After Rizzi swiped his fourth bag of the game, Anderson singled inside of first base to plate Rizzi with the third run.
 
Rizzi is now one stolen base shy of tying the all-time program record. That mark is held by Scott Kelly '13 with 98 steals. Rizzi currently stands at 97 in his career and 44 in 2016.
 
Anderson and Shindler both finished with two hits in the game. Sophomore Matt Curry (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) came on for Zachary to record the final two outs in the ninth.