Wayne, NJ… One day after scoring the game-winning run in a walk-off victory, sophomore Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ / Allentown) hit a two-run two-out double past a diving short stop in the top of the eighth inning as The College of New Jersey baseball team (25-10, 13-3 NJAC) defeated William Paterson University (13-19-2, 6-10 NJAC) 6-5 Friday afternoon. The Lions are now guaranteed a top two seed in next week's New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament.

TCNJ got off to a quick start, manufacturing a run via a passed ball, error, sacrifice bunt, and RBI ground out. With runners on the corners in the top of the third, the Pioneers executed a pickoff of the runner on first base, but heads up base running by Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee) extended the Lions advantage to 2-0.

WPU responded in the bottom of the fourth, placing runners on second and third with no one out. After a RBI groundout halved the lead, Mike Rowe singled through the left side to tie the game. McCarthy tripled to lead off the top of the fifth and would later score on a wild pitch to put the Lions back out front.

The Pioneers grabbed their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. After a Lion error allowed a two-out base runner, Eriq Colon hit an RBI double followed by a Vin Dorio single to score Colon. WPU scored an unearned run in the sixth and held a 5-3 lead.

The Lions got a lead-off triple from Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ / Hightstown), who scored on a McCarthy hit to narrow the lead and set up the late game heroics.

TCNJ loaded the bases with two outs via an error and two walks to bring McCarthy to the plate. The ball was just outside the reach of the diving Pioneer short stop and found the gap allowing two runs to score on the double. McCarthy would finish the game a homer short of the cycle.

Nickolas Kleftogiannis (Cherry Hill, NJ / Cherry Hill West) pitch two scoreless innings to earn his second victory of the season. Matt Curry (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee) got a one-two-three ninth inning for his seventh save of the season. Curry lowered his season ERA to just 0.32.

The Lions will close out the regular season tomorrow morning with a double header against Kean. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 AM. Prior to the games, the team will honor its three graduating members.