CNBNews

Media Release
Ewing, NJ – The Lions of the eighth-ranked Lions of The College of New Jersey hosted Ramapo College of New Jersey on Friday in Ackerman Park.   The Lions posted a 4-2 home win to improve 28-6 overall and 12-4 in the NJAC, while Ramapo drops to 17-18 and 5-11 in the NJAC. TCNJ has now won five in a row heading into a doubleheader on Saturday against No. 9 ranked Kean University.

TCNJ took a 2-0 lead as junior  third baseman Vince Mazzaccaro (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) had an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth and senior catcher Rich Gawlak (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro-South) came up with an RBI of a sacrifice fly to center field.

Ramapo tied the action in the top of the fifth when senior Aaron Drury (Canton, MI/North Farmington) had a solo home run to left field.  Rookie Rob Dimperio (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) would tie the game with an RBI single as Ramapo had five hits in the inning.

Senior Dave Mebs (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) drove in the go ahead run in the bottom of the fifth on a single to right center to drive in senior Tyler Hall (Stockton, NJ/Immaculata) who had walked.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hall led off with a single, stole second and was driven in on an RBI double down the left line by senior right fielder Matt Barrett (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley), giving TCNJ a 4-2 lead through seven innings.

In the top of the eighth, senior Ryan Paxton (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) walked with one out before senior Jairo Jimeniz (Bronx, NY/Dewitt Clinton) singled to center. Junior Mike Manges (Glen Rock, NJ/Paramus Catholic) grounded out to the pitcher moving the runners to second and third and knocking TCNJ’s starting pitcher, senior Nick Amabile (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) from the game.


Senior reliever Brad Kittle (Millville, NJ/Millville) came in with two outs and runners on second and third and faced junior pinch hitter, John Calllandrello (Montville, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and got him to ground out to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth with two outs, Dimperio and junior David Deredita (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) collected back to back singles to left center, knocking Kittle from the game. He was replaced by junior Eric Gertie (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) who got Mark Ruggiero to ground out to second to end the game. Gertie collected his team-leading seventh save of the year.

Amabile improved to 3-0 on the season after working 7.2 innings, yielding two earned runs off nine hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks. Amabile helped the Lions sweep the Roadrunners as he added the win on the mound as TCNJ beat Ramapo in the first meeting on April 11 as TCNJ posted a 10-6 win on the road. Amabile stands at 7-1 on his career with 66 strikeouts in 76 innings of work as a Lion in 18 appearances.

Kittle, who made his 48th career appearance which ranks 11th all-time at TCNJ. He worked one inning and gave up two hits. His 130 career strikeouts is 12th best at the College.

Ramapo’s rookie Jack McDonough (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) worked the complete game and scattered just five hits, yielding four earned runs, while striking out nine and walking three. He drops to 5-3 and leads Ramapo having struck out 65 in 65.2 innings of work.

Before the game, TCNJ honored their 11 seniors in conjunction with Senior Day. The Lions have won three straight NJAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, while going 133-38 during their careers.

TCNJ travels to Kean University for a noon NJAC double header in Union, NJ on Saturday, while Ramapo travels to Rutgers University-Newark for a noon conference double header, also starting at Noon on April 26.