Auburndale, FL... In the first of nine games in Florida, The College of New Jersey dropped an 8-3 decision against Aurora University on Saturday. The Lions fall to 1-1 while the Spartans improve to 7-4.

The starting pitchers, Joe Cirillo (Fairfield, NJ/Depaul Catholic) and John Barnes of Aurora were cruising along in the first four innings. Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY) registered the first hit in the game of the top of the fourth as he ripped a double to right center. In the bottom of the fourth, the Spartans got in the hit colum but could not push across any runs. In the bottom of the fifth, the Spartans put three up on the board, however the Lions answered right away in the top of the sixth with three runs of their own. Mike Follet (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) drove in a run with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, then Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) doubled down the left field line just inside of third base to make it a 3-2 ballgame. On the next at bat, Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) scored on a wild pitch to tie it up.

The Spartans then regained the lead with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. They did so by two doubles, and then Davis Purviance hit a home run to left center field to make it 7-3. 

Danny Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor South) went 3-4 out of the DH spot. Shindler went 1-3 with the double and a walk, while McCarthy finished 1-4 with the RBI double. Also going 1-3 was catcher Steve Bucci (Washington Twp. NJ/Washington Twp). 

The Lions return to action tomorrow, March 11th to take on Concordia University-Chicago at 2:30 pm.