WAYNE, N.J. – The TCNJ baseball team found themselves down a run going into the eighth inning, but the Lions rallied back for a bounce-back win against William Paterson on Thursday.
The Pioneers (15-20, 7-9 NJAC) took a 3-2 lead into the top of the eighth, but TCNJ (16-21, 6-10 NJAC) scored four runs to earn a comeback win.
Chris Salmon drew a walk to lead off the inning, and advanced to third after a groundout and a wild pitch.
Jack O'Donnell then tied up the game with one of his three hits on the day, scoring Salmon with a single up the middle.
The Lions then loaded the bases after
Tyler Provost was intentionally walked and
Braden Dromboski worked a seven-pitch at-bat which resulted in another walk.
Jake Carter capitalized on the opportunity, hitting a two-run single into right field to give his team a 5-3 lead. The next batter,
Antonio Destribats, walked to load the bases once more, after which
Brian Lovaglio was beaned by a pitch to score one more run. Although Salmon flied out in the next at-bat to end the inning, the lead would hold through the end of the game. For good measure, Provost added one more in the top of the ninth to make it a 7-3 game.
After giving up 16 runs in the previous day's game against the Pioneers, the Lions rebounded nicely this game by limiting William Paterson to just three. In his start,
Jesse Beer gave up just four hits and one run in the first five innings before running into some issues in the sixth.
John DiCostanzo then entered the game with the bases loaded, and, after walking in a run, forced a flyout to end the inning. After that point, DiCostanzo was nearly flawless to help facilitate his team's rally; the senior southpaw gave up just two hits the rest of the way.
STANDOUT LIONS
- O'Donnell: 3-5, 1 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB
- DiCostanzo: 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 hits allowed
UP NEXT
- TCNJ now looks ahead to this weekend's doubleheader against Kean to conclude the regular season. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11:30 AM on Sunday, April 28, and the Lions will honor their senior class before the game begins.
