Ewing, NJ … Freshman Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) ripped a two-out, game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth to lead The College of New Jersey to a 2-1 victory over William Paterson University on Thursday afternoon in George Ackerman Park.
 
Persichetti lined a 1-0 pitch to left-center to score Tommy McCarthy, who had singled with two starts to spark the rally. Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) drew a walk to set Persichetti for the late-game heroics.
 
The victory snaps a three-game skid on keeps TCNJ (24-10, 12-3 NJAC) on course for a potential top seed in the 2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.
 
Brandon Zachary (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) put forth another strong outing against the Pioneers (13-18, 6-9 NJAC). He went seven innings, scattered three hits and struck out four. Matt Curry (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) came out of the pen to record the final two outs in the ninth to register his sixth win of the season.
 
The Lions got on board in the third when Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) reached on an error and advanced to second base. Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) kept his hands inside a fastball and ripped a base hit up the middle to score Anderson.
 
William Paterson tied it up in the sixth when Mike Rowe singled just inside the first base bag. Vin Dorio came around to score to knot the game, 1-1.
 
The Pioneers put runners on first and second in the seventh, and Zachary reached back to induce an infield pop-up before striking out the last batter he faced to sew up another solid outing. Sophomore Zac deRocco (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South) came on in the eighth and retired the side in order. The Pioneers got a runner into scoring position in the ninth, which prompted Head Coach Dean Glus to call for the big right-hander. Curry got a ground to short and weak ground ball to second to end the threat.
 
Shindler finished with three hits and a stolen base in the game. Curry is now 6-0 with six saves.
 
The Lions will visit William Paterson tomorrow before returning home to host Kean University on Saturday in their season finale. TCNJ will also celebrate Senior Day prior to the 11:30 a.m. start and welcome back former players and families during Alumni Day.