AUBURNDALE, FL.- The TCNJ baseball team finished their spring trip the way they started, picking up another win against Middlebury by a score of 7-2. The Lions (9-0) spent the first four innings scoreless and finally broke through in the fifth. With solid pitching from RHP Ben Amon, LHP Michael Silver, and RHP Joe Ferreri, the Panthers (3-4) could only bring two runs across. 

The 9-0 start is the best for TCNJ baseball since 2006 when the Lions started off the season 15-0 before losing a game.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

    -       This game had all the signs for a pitching dual after the first two innings, as Amon and Middlebury's Tross saw just seven batters each. 

    -       Both pitchers made it through the fourth without giving up a run before the Lions struck first for three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth.

            ·       After a Zach Hochheiser double and two fly-outs, Zach Weiner walked, and Mike LaGravenis drove an inside fastball down the left field line, picking up a triple and driving in both             Hochheiser and Weiner. 

            ·       Justin Marcario followed this up with another nice piece of hitting as he sent a double past the right fielder to score LaGravenis. 

    -       In the sixth, Middlebury answered back with two runs on two hits to cut the lead to one. The Lions quickly fired back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

            ·       After a pair of walks and a double steal from Hochheiser and Goodall, a wild pitch drove Goodall in from third.

            ·       Jack Haynes drove in Hochheiser with a single to center, putting TCNJ ahead 5-2.

    -       After a scoreless seventh from Amon, the Blue and Gold went to the bullpen for the last two innings. Amon finished the day with eight strikeouts, two earned runs, and a walk, allowing             just four hits. 

    -       The Lions added another in the seventh and eighth on a Chris Reeder sac-fly and a Jack Haynes single up the middle, bringing the score to 7-2.

    -       Michael Silver and Joe Ferreri split the last two innings, going scoreless with one hit and one strikeout each to secure the win.

STANDOUT LIONS:

    -       RHP Ben Amon (1-0): 7.0 IP, 4H, 2ER, 8K, 1BB

    -       SS Justin Marcario: 3-for-4, 1RBI

    -       2B Mike LaGravenis: 2-for-5, 2RBI, 2R

    -       LF Jack Haynes: 2-for-3, 2RBI, 1BB

UP NEXT: 

    -       TCNJ baseball is back home in New Jersey to face off against Widener on Wednesday, March 20th at 3:30 PM.