AMBLER, Pa. - The TCNJ baseball team was on the road to take on Arcadia in its non-conference finale Tuesday afternoon, exploding for seven runs in the opening inning and never looking back in a 15-4 win over the Knights.
 
The Lions (21-14, 8-6 NJAC) struck early and often in Tuesday's contest, pouring on seven runs on six hits – all of which came with two outs – in a dominant first inning. TCNJ's first two batters were retired before Gianni Marano capitalized on an error to get himself on base. The ensuing at-bat was the Lions' first official hit of the day, a two-run homer off the bat of Ryan Goodall.
 
Justin Marcario and Zach Hochheiser hit back-to-back singles before Tyler Provost roped a double to right center to score the pair, with a single from Mike Doran scoring the junior to balloon the lead to five. Brian Lovaglio and Mike LaGravenis – TCNJ's leadoff hitter in the inning – earned free trips to first to load the bases, with Jack O'Donnell making up for his early out with a two-RBI double that made it 7-0 before Arcadia (22-13, 12-6 MAC Freedom) had a chance to bat.
 
On the mound for the Lions was John DiCostanzo, who allowed a hit in each of the three innings he appeared but nothing more in one of his best outings of the season. With the senior running the show on the mound, another multi-run inning – this time eight – from the visitors put the game out of reach.
 
LaGravenis, O'Donnell and Marano all reached safely to lead off the inning and load the bases. TCNJ's next two batters went down, but a walk drawn by Marano was the start of another two-out rally for the Lions. After another walk drawn by Provost and a Doran single pushed the advantage to double digits, a bases clearing double off the bat of Lovaglio made it 13-0. RBIs from O'Donnell and Marano served as TCNJ's final two of the afternoon, giving the Lions a 15-0 lead through four.
 
The Knights stole a run back in the fifth off LC Smith before getting a trio in the seventh with the hopes of extending the game, but TCNJ's lead was too much to overcome in the 15-4, run-rule victory. Smith, who allowed just the one run on one hit in two innings of work, was awarded his first collegiate win for his efforts out of the bullpen.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• O'Donnell: 3-5, 3 RBIs
• Provost: 1-2, 3 RBIs, 3 runs
• Doran: 2-2, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
• Lovaglio: 1-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs
• DiCostanzo: 3 IP, 0 ER, 3 hits

UP NEXT

• The Lions take on Ramapo in their regular season road finale Thursday, April 24. First pitch of the NJAC showdown is set for 3:30 p.m.