College Baseball : TCNJ sweeps F&M to push streak to 10 straight
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball team won a wild one in the nightcap of a doubleheader to sweep Franklin and Marshall College on Saturday afternoon in Lancaster, Pa.
The Lions came from behind twice in the second game, lost a lead in extra innings, and then erupted for six runs in the 11th to register a 17-11 victory. The Lions posted a 6-1 win in the opener and have now extended their winning streak to 10 games. TCNJ is now 13-1 on the season and pounded out another 31 hits in the two games.
Senior Steven Volpe (Cherry Hill, NJ/Eastern Regional) tossed a complete game in the opener, shutting down the Diplomat offense for a 6-1. In the second game, the Lions trailed 5-1 early, but clawed its way back to tie the game, 8-8 and ultimately win it in 11.
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Game 1: TCNJ 6 Franklin and Marshall 1
Volpe pitched all seven innings for the Lions in the opener, registering his second complete game and third win of the season. The veteran right-hander blanked the Diplomats for the first six innings and was nipped for a run in the seventh. Volpe limited F&M to seven hits and struck out two.
Six TCNJ batters had two hits in the game. Senior John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) and sophomore Zach Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) each went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
The Lions got on the board quickly as Rizzi led off the game with a double and Roberts singled to drive him home. Rizzi drove a base hit to right field to score Christian and junior CJ Gearhart (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) to make it a 3-0 game.
TCNJ tacked on runs in the third, fifth, and seventh en route to its ninth straight victory. Shindler accounted for two of those runs with a double and single to plate runners. Christian, Roberts, Patrick Anderson (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central), and junior Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) all had two hits in the game.
Game 2: TCNJ 17 F&M 11 (11 innings)
The Lions fell behind early and trailed the Diplomats 5-1 after two innings. They cut that deficit to 5-3 when Anderson doubled in sophomore Mike Follet (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and Roberts singled for his second RBI of the game.
Single runs in the fourth and fifth followed by a three-run sixth tied the game, 8-8.
After F&M scored a run in the bottom of the eighth, Schindler tripled to center to open the inning. Junior Alex Christian (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) evened the score in the ninth with an RBI-single to left.
In the 10th, senior Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) drove in classmate Patrick Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) with a base hit in tenth with the go-ahead run. An infield single by sophomore Ryan Fearon (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) added a much-needed insurance as the Diplomats came back with two runs in the bottom of the frame to tie it.
A single by Anderson plated Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) with the eventual game-winner. Senior Matt Facas (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) blew the game open with a two-run single as six TCNJ runners would cross home plate before F&M recorded the third out.
Sophomore Matt Curry (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) pitched two and two-thirds innings of relief for the win. Curry saved two games this week and also notched his first win of the season. Sophomore Chris Barcas (Wall, NJ/Wall) and senior Joe DiLorenzo (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) each pitched three innings of solid relief, giving up just one run apiece. Eric Teesdale (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) pitched a scoreless 11th.
Anderson, Roberts, and Turner all had three hits in the win. Facas drove in three runs.
The Lions visit Ursinus College tomorrow for a 3:30 p.m. game in Collegeville, Pa.