#17 Lions set to open NJAC baseball schedule at #5 Kean on Saturday
Friday, April 01, 2011
press release April 1, 2011
Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball opens its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule this weekend at Kean University. The two teams are slated to square off in a doubleheader beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in Union, NJ.
The #17 Lions (13-3) will send staff ace Connor Henderson (Monmouth, Jct., NJ/South Brunswick) to battle the #5 Cougars (16-3). Henderson (4-0, 0.47 ERA) has been the epitome of consistency throughout his career at TCNJ and will take his arsenal of talents with him to open conference action on Saturday.
TCNJ enters its conference games under much brighter circumstances than they did in 2010. The Lions had a record of 6-8 going into NJAC play a year ago. In 2011, they have come out on top in 13 of 16 games. They’ve outscored their opponent 126-62 and boast a team earned run average of 2.64.
A prime example of how much difference a year can makes starts and finishes with senior Joe Marchitelli (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial). He hadn’t posted his first save when conference action took flight last season, and he goes into it with five saves under his belt this season and a 1.64 ERA.
Sophomore Michael Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech) leads the offense hitting .396 with 18 runs batted in, 15 walks, and a .507 on base percentage. Senior Jason Zegarski (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) is closing in on 100 career hits just 16 games into his second season. The left-handed hitting shortstop has 95 safeties going into the weekend.
Sophomore Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-North) has also been a steady force batting .396, scoring 22 runs, driving in 13, and drawing 14 free passes. Junior Mike Galeotafiore (Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) has knocked in 16 runners, including a pair of home runs and five doubles, while hitting at a .388 clip.
One of the most impressive statistics for TCNJ has as an offense has been its strikeout to walk ratio. They’ve taken 98 bases on balls while going down on strikes just 75 times.
Kean is also off to a great start this season. They’re led on offense by 2010 NJAC Player of the Year Nick Nolan (.303) and senior Ken Gregory (.403). Transfer Michael Russo (4-0. 0.95 ERA) tops a pitching staff that owns a 2.09 overall ERA. Russo will likely lock horns with Henderson on Saturday in his first conference appearance. The Cougars have won their last five games since dropping a 6-5 decision to Whittier College on March 17.
The Lions return home on Tuesday, April 5 to host Widener College at George Ackerman Park at 3:30 p.m.