Union, NJ … The College of New Jersey suffered a 3-1 setback to Rutgers-Newark in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.

The Lions (28-11) will now face the loser of the Kean University/Rowan University game, which started at 7 p.m. TCNJ will play its opponent at noon, and if they advance, will play the winner of that same Cougar/Prof match-up at 7 p.m.

Scarlet Raider right-hander Anthony Rosaline allowed just one run and four hits over seven-plus innings to lead RNU to victory. Rosaline (4-3) permitted just five baserunners in the opening seven innings and did not walk a batter. Senior Josh Cote knocked in all three runs to keep the Scarlet Raiders tournament hopes alive.

The Lions (28-11) managed to push a run across in the eighth and threatened in the ninth, but they did not display the offensive firepower they showcased in the opening round.

Junior Joe Cirillo (Fairfield, NJ/DePaul Catholic) pitched well enough to win, but came out on the short end. He allowed three runs on nine hits and struck out eight. Sophomore Zac deRocco (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South) tossed one inning of scoreless relief.

RN got on the board in the bottom of the first. A triple to right-center by Cote gave the Scarlet Raiders a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, Cote came through again with a two-run single to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Lions cut the deficit to 3-1 in the eighth. Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) doubled down the left-field line with one out. That chased Rosaline and Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) greeted reliever Chas Bohannon with a base hit up the middle to score Persichetti. Bohannon was able to work his way out of the jam to end the inning.

Luis Rojas entered the game for the Scarlet Raiders to close out the ninth. With one out, Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) doubled and Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) singled and advanced on the throw from the outfield to put runners at second and third. But Rohas recorded the final two outs to secure his seventh save of the season.

Simon and Anderson each had two hits for the Lions.

Earlier in the day, Ramapo College defeated William Paterson University, 6-1. The Pioneers are now eliminated from the tournament.