Holly Springs, NC… In the second game of the 2018 NCAA Division III Championships, The 10th ranked College of New Jersey baseball team was defeated by 11th ranked Christopher Newport University 6-5 in 10 innings. With the defeat the Lions record is now 29-10 on the year, while the Captains improve to 34-10.

As they have often in the season, the Lions struck first in the opening inning. Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) led off with a base hit, then Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) drove him in with a double to left center. Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) made it 2-0 with an RBI base hit through the right side. The Lions have had tremendous success in the 1st inning this year, as they have outscored opponents 47-16.

The Captains put one on the board in the second inning, then tied it up in the fourth. The game did not remain tied for very long however, as Persichetti scored from third off of a throwing error in the top of the 5^th inning.

The skies opened up in the 6^th inning, and the game entered a rain delay. After the delay, the Captains posed a threat as they put runners on second and third with only one out. Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) made a diving stop going to his right, then delivered a perfect throw from his knees and catcher David Cardona III (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) applied the tag to preserve the lead.

In the 7^th inning, Persichetti was alert on the base paths and scored from third on a wild pitch to put the Lions up 4-2. The Captains were able to take control of the lead with three runs in the 7^th inning. In the top of the 9^th, McCarthy led off with an opposite field single, then a couple of batters later Cardona worked a walk. Down to the last out, Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) came up clutch with a base hit to the right side to tie the ballgame. Simon was locked in at the plate, as he was 4-4 on the night.

The Captains put a runner on first in the bottom of the 9^th, but second baseman Ryan Fischer (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) made a diving stop and threw the runner out at first to end the inning. In the bottom of the 10^th, the Captains put a runner on second base, and were able to win the exciting ballgame with a base hit to right field.

Persichetti went 2-4 with 3 runs scored and an RBI, while Shindler went 2-5 with an RBI. Starting pitcher Michael Fischer (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) did not receive a decision, and he went six innings and allowed four earned runs while striking out seven batters. 

The Lions will be back at it tomorrow and they will face LaGrange at 3pm.