CARLISLE, PA - The TCNJ baseball team opened its 2025 campaign with a doubleheader against Dickinson Saturday afternoon, dropping Game 1, 11-1 before bouncing back for a convincing 4-0, Game 2 win to earn the split.
 
Game 1: TCNJ 1, Dickinson 11
 
Miscues plagued the Lions (1-1) in Saturday's season-opener in a game in which TCNJ allowed 11 runs on just four hits. Falling victim to first-game jitters, the Lions' fielders committed three errors while their pitching staff combined for nine walks and five wild pitches en route to the 11-1 loss.
 
Despite what the final score might suggest, it was TCNJ striking first in the opener on a driven ball off the bat of Gianni Marano. After the Lions' first two batters were retired, Andrew Fernandez hit a single to left to break things open. The senior's hit was followed by the first for Marano in a TCNJ uniform, with the graduate transfer launching a stand-up double off the left field wall to score Fernandez from first and give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
 
That lead was short-lived, however, as Dickinson (2-3) needed just one hit to score two runs in the bottom of the frame and jump in front 2-1. TCNJ threatened to retake the lead in the third inning with the bases loaded and just one out, but were unable to bring a run across the board. Instead it was the Red Devils adding a run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings before a six-run seventh that featured three walks and three passed balls ended things early.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Fernandez went 2-3 from the plate and was TCNJ's lone run in the loss.
• Marano, Mike LaGravenis and Zach Hochheiser registered one hit apiece.

Game 2: TCNJ 4, Dickinson 0
 
Saturday's finale told a different story, as it was Jackson Malouf putting together a near-perfect outing on the mound to lift the Lions to a shutout victory and prevent the sweep.
 
After TCNJ failed to convert with runners on the corners in the first, a pair of fielder's choices by Dickinson gave the Lions a second chance in the ensuing inning they would take advantage of. In one of the longest at bats of the day, it was LaGravenis finding the gap in right center to score Jake Carter and Brian Lovaglio and give TCNJ the 2-0 lead.
 
Malouf continued to mow down Red Devils batters, allowing just a pair of singles in the fourth and fifth innings before retiring the final six batters in faced. Adding insurance runs during that stretch of dominance from the senior were Ryan Goodall and Jack O'Donnell before Dan Merkel and Joe Ferreri combined to complete the shutout and secure the Lions their first win of the new season.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Malouf finished the day allowing just two hits and fanning five in seven shutout innings.
• Braden Dromboski tallied a game-high two hits in his first action of the season.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are back in action Tuesday, March 4 to host Haverford in their home-opener. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.