#17 TCNJ - 13, Farmingdale State - 9
Farmingdale, N.Y. - TCNJ trailed 9-3 after two innings but outscored Farmingdale State 10-0 the remainder of the game as they earned a 13-9 non-conference victory this afternoon. The FSC baseball team dropped to 13-9 on the year with the loss, while the Lions improved to 15-5.
In the top of the first, TCNJ plated two runs on one hit and an error. Sophomore center fielder Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, N.J.) drove in junior second baseman Danny Borup (Plainsboro, N.J.) with an RBI single to right and the Lions would score their second run later on an error.
The Rams responded with six runs on five hits in the bottom of the first, including a grand slam from junior right fielder Joseph Roche (Westbury, N.Y.). A Brandon Ernest (Owings, Md.) bunt single opened the inning, senior first baseman Christopher Reilly (Levittown, N.Y.) followed with a walk and freshman left fielder Jake Jacobs (Commack, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. In the next at-bat, a Thomas Pallatto (Oceanside, N.Y.) RBI single would score Ernest and set the stage for Roche, who homered over the right field fence to give the Rams a 5-2 lead. Four batters later, Ernest walked with the bases load to score freshman third baseman Tom DeSena (Centereach, N.Y.) and put Farmingdale State on top, 6-2.
In the top of the second, the Lions cut the deficit to 6-3, before Farmingdale State added three runs in the bottom half of the inning. FSC used a Jacobs RBI double down the left field line, a Roche RBI triple down the right field line and a sacrifice fly by DeSena to increase the advantage to 9-3.
TCNJ scored a run in the third and two in the fifth to cut the FSC lead in half at 9-6.
In the top of the sixth, Persichetti led off with a single, stole second and came around to score on a Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, N.Y.) RBI single to left. After a walk to sophomore left fielder Jacob Simon (Hightstown, N.J.), a Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, N.J.) three-run triple to right gave the Lions a 10-9 lead. TCNJ would add three more runs in the inning to increase the advantage to 13-9.
Neither team would score over the final 3.5 innings as TCNJ earned the 13-9 comeback victory.
The Rams were led by Roche who was 2-for-5 at the plate with a triple, grand slam, two runs scored and game-high 5 RBI. Ernest went 3-for-5 with a run scored and run batted in, while DeSena had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. FSC used 11 different pitchers in the game.
Shindler had a team-high three hits for the Lions, while four other players notched two hits apiece. McCarthy was 1-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and 3 RBI in the win.
Farmingdale State returns to action on Friday, April 13th as they host conference opponent Yeshiva University for a doubleheader starting at 10:00 a.m.
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