Lake Myrtle, Fla. … In what will surely go down as one of the best-pitched games in Division III baseball this season, The College of New Jersey scratched and clawed its way to a 3-1, 11-inning victory over Webster University on Thursday night at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.
 
The #13 Lions (6-1) tied the game with a run in the top of the ninth inning and then plated two in the 11^th to wrestle away the win from the 17^th-ranked Gorlocks (8-4).
 
Pitching was the story of the game as junior right-hander Joe Cirillo (Fairfield, NJ/DePaul Catholic) matched up against junior left-hander Josh Fleming from Webster. The two aces went toe-to-toe and Fleming, who entered the game with a 0.86 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 21 innings, left with a 1-0 lead after seven. Cirillo continued to compete through the ninth inning when his teammates produced the run he needed all night. He was brilliant from start to finish, striking out a career-high nine batters and allowing a single run in the second inning.
 
The torch was passed to junior closer Matt Curry (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) in the 10^th and he equaled Cirillo's intensity on the mound. He struck out five of the six batters he faced to notch the win. Curry closed out his third game in two days, securing victories in the last two extra-inning triumphs.
 
A two-out single to right by Gorlock second baseman Eric Outlaw in the second inning drove in a run, and it appeared as if that would be all Fleming would need. The composed southpaw mixed a hard fastball and slider with great precision to strike out nine in seven innings. TCNJ hitters made him work their second and third time around in the order, a factor into Fleming having to leave the game after seven.
 
The Lions loaded the bases in the fifth. Sophomore Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) singled to center and Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) hit a hard ground ball to short that was mishandled. With two out, freshman Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) hit a chopper that he beat out to fill the bases. Junior Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) hit a sinking line drive to left, but left fielder Mike Wick made a nice play on the run coming in to end the threat.
 
In the seventh, Simon reached on an overthrow and avoided the tag at second to slide in safely. Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) drew a walk and was later forced out at second on a Persichetti grounder to short, putting runners at first and third. Anderson took Fleming to a 2-2 count, but a ground ball to second ended the inning.
 
TCNJ finally got the equalizer in the ninth. With two out and nobody on, Varone hit a sharp single to left. Danny Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-South) came in to pinch run and moved to second when Persichetti walked. A balk advanced both runners before Anderson drew a free pass. That loaded the bases for yesterday's hero, junior Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh). He took a rip, but was interfered with by the catcher, forcing in Borup with the tying run.
 
Cirillo retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out two Gorlocks. Curry came on in the 10^th and struck out the side, giving TCNJ a spark for the 11^th.

Borup delivered a one-out single up the middle to ignite the rally. Pitcher Matt Mulhear attempted to pick off Borup and threw it away, allowing Borup to advance to second. He was injured going back to the base on the play and was replaced by rookie Donovan Stallworth (Wharton, NJ/Jefferson Twp.). With two out, Anderson skied a pop-up that dropped in the infield and the Lions had runners at first and third. A wild pitch allowed Stallworth to race home with the go-ahead run. Senior Alex Christian (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) followed with a single to right to make it a 3-1 game.
 
Curry slammed the door in the 11^th, ending the game with a called third strike. Cirillo and Curry combined to strike out 14 hitters in the game, while a total of 28 batters went down on strikes in an impressive display of pitching. Christian finished with three hits on the night.
 
TCNJ is back on the diamond tomorrow and will play a double header against Western New England University beginning at 9 a.m.