CNBNews

Media Release, April 22

Ewing, NJ – The Lions of the eighth-ranked Lions of The College of New Jersey hosted Stevens Institute of Technology on Tuesday in a non-conference game at George Ackerman Park.  The Lions came away with an 8-3     win over Stevens to improve to 26-6 on the year, while Stevens drops to 6-23.

TCNJ tacked on seven runs in the bottom of the first inning as the entire lineup made a trip to the plate. Among the highlights was a grand slam by senior right fielder Matt Barrett (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley), the first of his career at TCNJ. 

The Lions’ right handed junior pitcher Dan Anderson (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) earned the win to improve to 4-0 and remains perfect on his career with a 7-0 record for the Lions. Anderson fanned a career-high seven batters in the game, while yielding one earned run off three hits and three walks.

Sophomore Greg Spatz (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) worked two innings for the Lions and gave up one run off two hits with a pair of walks. Senior Steve Turrise (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) worked the ninth inning for the Lions and gave up a run with three walks and a strikeout.

For Stevens, junior pitcher Alex Sota (Lititz, PA/Manheim Township) suffered the loss and drops to 2-2. Sota worked seven innings, yielding eight earned runs off nine hits with four walks and four strikeouts.  He was relieved in the eighth by sophomore Pedro Pimienta (Weehawken, NJ/Weehawken) who gave up a walk in an inning of work.

Rookie catcher Denis Ackermann (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) broke up TCNJ’s shutout bid with an RBI single in the top of the third inning. Rookie Ken Meerendonk (Sussex, NJ/Vernon Township) drove in a run with a two-out double to right field in the top of the eighth inning.

In the top of the ninth, the Ducks tacked on a run as Matt Glassman (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) had a bases loaded walk to drive in a run. With bases loaded, Ackermann came to the plate and struck out bringing senior John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Paramus Catholic) to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded and grounded into a fielders choice to end the game.               

For the Lions, senior first baseman Rich Gawlak (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro-South) was 2-4 with a pair of RBIs and a double to help the Lions, while senior catcher Bill Kropp (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts) was also 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Lions. Junior short stop Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ/Sayerville) was 1-2 at the plate with three walks and a stolen base.

TCNJ returns to action on April 23 travelling to Widener University for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference match-up, while Stevens travels to Vassar College also on April 23 for a 4 p.m. contest.