Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey continued its hot start to the 2017 season as they swept Franklin & Marshall College 10-5 and 9-1 in George Ackerman Park on Saturday afternoon.
 
Junior Matt Curry (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) continues to be rewarded for great pitching as they registered his fifth win of the season. A closer by trade, Curry came on with one out in the eighth and retired all five batters he faced including a pair of strikeouts. He raised his record to 5-0 and has not allowed a run in 14.1 innings pitched.
 
Sophomore Michael Fischer (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) also remained perfect this season, throwing seven strong innings to improve to 3-0.
 
Senior Alex Christian (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) rapped out five hits on the day and shortstop Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) produced three hits on the day and knocked in four.
 
Game1: TCNJ 10  Franklin & Marshall 5
 
The Lions put up two runs in the fourth to take command early in the contest. Christian opened the inning with a single, CJ Gearhart (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) punched a base hit to right, and Austin Lindsay (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) walked to load the bases. A ground ball double play plated Christian before freshman Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) singled to drive in Gearhart.
 
The Diplomats cut the lead in half with a run in the fifth, but TCNJ got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Gearhart ripped a single to left to chase Shindler home. F&M took a 4-3 lead with three runs in the seventh. The Lions countered with two runs when Lindsay smoked a double over the right fielder's head to score Christian and Gearhart.
 
In the eighth, the Diplomats tied it up on a sacrifice fly. TCNJ then came to the plate in the bottom of the inning and put up a five-spot. That would be plenty for Curry as he retired the side in order in the ninth to seal the opener.
 
Junior Joe Cirillo (Fairfield, NJ/DePaul Catholic) pitched strong seven innings and struck out four.
 
Game 2: TCNJ 9  F&M 1
 
TCNJ put up two runs in second, two more in the third, and another in the fourth to take control of the game from the onset. Junior Steve Bucci (Washington, Twp.,/Washington) took advantage of his start behind the plate, going went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in. He put the Lions up for good with a two-out, two-run single to center in the second inning.
 
In the third, Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) singled and came around to score when Shindler tripled to right. Christian chased Shindler with a base hit at TCNJ was up 4-0. An RBI-single off the bat of Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) made it 5-0 in the fifth.
 
In the meantime, Fischer put up four straight goose eggs to keep the F&M offense in check. He was touched for a run in the fifth, but pitched through the seventh surrendering just one run on three hits, while striking out six.
 
Shindler drove in two more in the seventh and Christian delivered the Lions second triple of the game to highlight a four-run seventh inning. Freshman Nickolas Kleftogiannis (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) looked sharp in relief of Fischer. He pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two to secure the Lions fourth straight win.
 
TCNJ is back in action this Tuesday when they visit Widener University for a 3:30 p.m. start.