Lake Myrtle, Fla. … A four-run, fifth inning proved to be the difference as The College of New Jersey baseball team dropped a 6-4 decision to University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse on Sunday afternoon in Lake Myrtle, Fla.
 
The Lions outhit the third-ranked Eagles 13-7, but free passes, four defensive errors, and leaving 10 runners on base was too much cushion to give to a talented UW-L squad.
 
After the Eagles took an early 1-0 lead in the second, TCNJ evened the score in the fourth. Back-to-back singles by junior Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) and senior Alex Christian (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) put pressure on UW-L starter Jameson Lavery. Catcher C.J. Gearhart (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) came through with a base hit to center score Shindle and tie the game.
 
The bottom of the fifth was a forgettable one for the Lions. A walk, two hit batsman, and two errors aided the Eagles four-run rally to take command of the game. TCNJ did come back with a run in the sixth and two in the eighth.
 
Freshman Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) registered his first collegiate hit and RBI with a run-scoring single in the sixth. Senior Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the eight and rookie Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) added a two-out single to right-center in the eighth.
 
The Eagles closed the door in the ninth as sophomore Calen Willems picked up the save.
 
Gearhart went 3-for-3 in the game and now has six hits in his last two contests. Shindler, Christian, and Austin Lindsay (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) each had two hits in the game.
 
Right-hander Zac deRocco (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South) pitched well in relief. He allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out one.
 
TCNJ will take on Gordon College tomorrow in a single game at 3:30 p.m.