Farmingdale, NY... Despite being down by six runs at one point, The College of New Jersey baseball team (15-5) pulled out a victory over Farmingdale State (13-9) on Tuesday. 

As they have often this season, the Lions jumped out to an early lead. Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) knocked in a run with an opposite field base hit, then Persichetti scored from third when Austin Lindsay (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) reached base on an error. The Rams answered with a big first inning, and gained a 6-2 lead.

The Lions ended the inning when Joseph Felipe (Manchester Twp., NJ) stepped up on the mound to make his collegiate debut and during his first batter he forced a fly out to right fielder Mike Follet (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) who came up throwing, and gunned down the runner trying to score.

The Lions got one run back when Follet scored from third on a RBI groundout from Steve Bucci (Washington Twp, NJ/Washington Twp). Once again the Rams had the answer, and put up a three spot in the bottom of the second inning to take a 9-3 lead. Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) continued to swing the bat well as he ripped a double down the left field line to trim the Rams lead to five. 

In the fifth inning, the Lions put two more on the board as Follet drove in a run on a groundout, then Anderson scored from third on a passed ball. The Lions, remarkably, regained the lead with a massive sixth inning. Lindsay drove in a run with a single to right field, then Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) worked a walk to load the bases. Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) delivered the big hit as he tripled to right field to clear the bases and give TCNJ a 10-9 lead. After taking the lead the Lions did not ease off the gas pedal as Follet drove in another run with a base hit, then Bucci came through again as he knocked in Anderson to make it a 12-9 ballgame. 

Yariel Levin (Newark, NJ/Science Park) came out of the bullpen in a big spot to make his collegiate debut, and came through for the Lions to wind up the winning pitcher. He entered the game in the fifth inning when the Rams held a 9-6 lead, and got out of the bases loaded jam with a strikeout then getting a pinch hitter to fly out. 

Zac deRocco (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South) entered the game in the sixth and retired all six Rams he saw, three by way of a punch out. Dylan Crowley (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning, then Matt Curry (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) slammed the door in the ninth inning to give the Lions the wild win.

Follet finished the day going 2-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Anderson went 2-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) went 3-5 with one run scored, Persichetti posted a 2-5, one RBI and one run scored line. Bucci went 2-4 with two RBIs. 

The bullpen combination of Levin-deRocco-Crowley-Curry threw a combined 3.2 innings pitched with no runs allowed and only one hit. They also struck out eight Rams to seal the deal.

Next up is a home game on Thursday, April 12 against conference opponent Stockton University.