Ewing, N.J. – Stockton University (5-7, 3-5 NJAC) dropped the first game of its NJAC doubleheader at The College of New Jersey (4-9, 3-5 NJAC) 6-3 but rebounded to win the nightcap 5-4 and earn a split. The teams played a twinbill after yesterday's contest was rained out.
Garrett DeMarrais (Oradell/River Dell) led the Ospreys with three hits, including his first career home run, plus four RBI and two runs on the day.
Luke Fabrizzi (Old Bridge/Old Bridge) added two hits, four walks, one run and one RBI.
Fabrizzi went 2-3 with a double in the opener. TCNJ broke out to an early 2-0 lead before
Jahi Williams (Jersey City/Ferris) doubled home DeMarrais in the third frame to get the Ospreys on the board. After a Lions' run in the fourth inning,
Nick Trifiletti (Linwood/Mainland) stroked an RBI single in the sixth to pull Stockton within 3-2.
TCNJ extended the margin to four at 6-2 before DeMarrais slugged his first career homer, a solo blast in the ninth inning for the last run in the 6-3 contest. Starter
Rico Viani (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) fanned three and allowed two earned runs plus two unearned on five hits in six innings pitched, but he absorbed the loss.
DeMarrais went 2-3 with a walk and three RBI in the second game.
John Perrino (Wall/Wall) was 2-4 with a walk and two runs while
Dominic Meleo (Freehold/St. Peter's Prep) contributed two hits and an RBI.
The game was a scoreless pitchers' duel through four innings before the Lions scored three times in the fifth frame for a 3-0 lead. Stockton answered with two runs in the top of the sixth on RBI singles by DeMarrais and Meleo to close the gap to 3-2.
Stockton pulled ahead 5-3 with three runs in the seventh inning. Fabrizzi walked with the bases loaded for an RBI to tie the game and DeMarrais rapped a two-run single to give the Ospreys their first lead of the day at 5-3.
TCNJ scored once in the ninth inning and loaded the bases before
Michael Wynne (Howell/Howell) came out of the bullpen an induced a flyout to earn his second save of the season in the 5-4 Stockton triumph.
Aaron Winsker (Baltimore, Md./Hereford) pitched eight strong innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts to earn the win on the mound.
Stockton returns home to host Ramapo in an NJAC doubleheader tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.