Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University (6-5) rallied from a 5-2 deficit with four runs in the seventh inning and knocked off previously-unbeaten Salve Regina (7-1) 6-5. The Seahawks are ranked second in the D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll.
 
Nick Avagnano (Paramus/Paramus) went 3-4 with a double and two RBI. The junior also scored what proved to be the winning run for the Ospreys. Russell Halvorsen (Howell/Howell) and Jordan Nitti (Hamilton/Steinert) each singled and scored once. Halvorsen stole a base as well.
 
Stockton took an early 2-1 lead by scoring on a wild pitch in the second inning and a passed ball in the third frame. Salve Regina later surged ahead with four runs on three hits and two errors in the fifth inning for a 5-2 count.
 
The Ospreys loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and Avagnano ripped a two-run double that made it 5-4. Nitti, who had singled earlier in the inning, scored the tying run on a passed ball for a 5-5 deadlock. Austin Beard (Toms River/TR South) then stroked an RBI single that delivered Avagnano with the go-ahead run at 6-5.
 
After Kyle Cipolla (Westwood/Westwood) pitched a scoreless seventh inning, Reece Miller (Toms River/TR East) came out of the bullpen for a two-inning save.
 
Miller struck out the side in the eighth frame and worked out of a jam with the tying run at third and winning run at first and no outs in the ninth. The closer induced an out at home on a fielder's choice followed by a game-ending double play to seal the 6-5 triumph.
 
Jeffrey Erschen (Walnutport, Pa./Northampton) tossed 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen with two strikeouts while yielding one hit and one walk for the pitching win.
 
Stockton will have a day off tomorrow and then play a doubleheader against Keystone College on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.