EWING, N.J. – On Sunday, the TCNJ baseball team began their NJAC schedule with two wins by sweeping a doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark.
 
Game 1: TCNJ 4, RU-N 1
 
TCNJ starter John DiCostanzo was dealing the first game of the doubleheader, throwing a complete game while giving up just one run. He also logged three strikeouts. He ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the sixth inning, where the Scarlet Raiders scored the first run of the contest with a sacrifice fly, but DiCostanzo gave up just one hit after that point to earn his first win of the year.
 
Rutgers-Newark pitcher Joey Santi also had it going for the majority of the game, as he held TCNJ without a hit until the bottom of the sixth inning. After being held quiet for most of the game, the Lions scored a run to tie up the game in the seventh inning thanks to a Braden Dromboski RBI single.
 
TCNJ put the pressure on in the next inning as well, where they scored three runs to take the first leg of the doubleheader. Jesse Beer began with a walk, which cued a pitching change for Rutgers-Newark as Santi had thrown 107 pitches at that point. TCNJ then loaded the bases after Jack O'Donnell singled and Brian Lovaglio walked on four pitches. Michael Contiliano, the next batter up, capitalized with a two-run single which scored Beer and O'Donnell. The third run of the frame scored after Contiliano stole second and Lovaglio raced home on the throw. With the three-run lead, DiCostanzo retired the side in just ten pitches to end the game.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• DiCostanzo: 9.0 IP, 7 hits allowed, 1 ER, 3 Ks
• Contiliano 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R

 
Game 2: TCNJ 6, RU-N 1
 
Unlike in the first game, TCNJ scored early in the second leg of the doubleheader. The Lions loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, after which Jake Carter drove in two runs with a two-run single. In the next inning, the Lions added a third run. With one out, Beer hit a ball to right field which would result in a single for most players. Beer rounded first and sprinted for second, however, sliding in just in time for the first extra-base hit of his collegiate career. A few batters, Lovaglio drove in Beer with a single through the right side.
 
On the mound for the Lions, TCNJ starter Jack Reardon threw three scoreless innings, followed up by Austin Hannie who logged two scoreless innings himself. Tyler Perry then threw two and a third while giving up the only run of the game for Rutgers-Newark, but was replaced in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and one out. Jalen Maharaja got the Lions out of the jam, however, starting with a big strikeout and then causing the next batter to ground out. Beer, who had been playing shortstop, got the call on the mound and threw a scoreless ninth inning to secure the sweep over the Scarlet Raiders.
 
TCNJ gave its pitching staff plenty more run support in the bottom of the sixth inning, where they pushed their run total to six. Chris Salmon doubled to left field, and Joe Tammaro allowed Salmon to advance to third with a sacrifice bunt. Beer then drew a walk to put runners on the corners. After that Jack O'Donnell laid down a nice bunt and would've beat out the throw which ended up sailing over the first baseman's head. That error allowed Beer to advance to third and O'Donnell to second, and Salmon scored amidst the broken play. Lovaglio then cleared the bases with a two-run single, collecting his second and third RBIs of the game.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Lovaglio: 2-4, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
• Beer: 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 2B (first career XBH), 1.0 IP, 0 ER
• Contiliano: 2-5, 1 R
• Carter: 2-4, 2 RBI
• Salmon: 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB

 
UP NEXT

• NJAC play continues on Thursday, as the Lions host Rutgers-Camden on April 2. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.