Jersey City, NJ - John Jay senior outfielder
Michael Manzoeillo collected three hits while newcomer
John Spallin drove in two RBIs but the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights erupted for a double-digit third which propelled the home team to a 21-6 victory on Thursday.
With the loss, John Jay falls to 1-7 on the season while New Jersey City moves to 3-1 on the year.
David Michalski joined Manzoeillo with a multi-hit day, collecting two hits while also driving in an RBI.
Michael Mauro and
Anthony Agosta each added an RBI on the day.
Six Gothic Knights produced multi-RBIs in the contest, led by Ricky Voss plating home three RBIs. Josh Hernandez, John Abrahamsen, Adrian Contreras, Justin Moreno, and Arian Lunar each drove in two RBIs. Hernandez and Caleb Ware led the with two hits while Contreras and Jimmy Vizzoni scored a team-high three runs.
The Gothic Knights struck for three runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. In the top of the second, John Jay got the leadoff man on as Manzoeillo doubled down the right field line but was stranded Julian Fernandez was able to escape unscathed.
NJCU sparked the double-digit third inning by batting around twice in the frame, sending a total of 19 batters to the plate as the Gothic Knights tallied 13 runs to increase their lead.
The home team tacked on three more in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a pair of two-out hits, as Moreno doubled in a run while Montrell Mayo-Smith laced a pinch-hit RBI single.
The Bloodhounds got on the board in the top of the fifth. Michalski led off with a single to left and moved into scoring position on a failed pickoff throw by Fernandez.
Ethan Simaan legged out an infield hit back to the pitcher, giving John Jay runners on the corners with no outs. Agosta sent a deep fly to right as Michalski tagged up and scored. John Jay got runners to second and third following a wild pitch, but Fernandez buckled down on the mound to retire the next two batters to escape the frame.
In the bottom of the fifth, Contreras roped a two-run double to left field before
Fernando Sladky struck out Moreno to end the stanza.
The Bloodhounds plated across their second run of the game in the top of the sixth. Mauro reached on a throwing error by the shortstop while Manzoeillo was hit by a pitch giving John Jay two runners on base. Michalski roped a RBI single that scored Mauro before Ronnie Wallraff got out of the inning with two straight strikeouts.
John Jay continued to chip away, scoring three times in the top of the seventh.
Tyler DeStefano worked a leadoff walk before
Thomas Salerno was hit by a pitch. Spallin doubled to right field that brought in both runners and a batter later, Mauro delivered a RBI single to right, scoring Emanuele.
The Bloodhounds continued to fight as in their half of the ninth Emanuele led off the inning with a double to left center. With one out, Manzoeillo singled through the left side, giving the Bloodhounds runners on the corner but both were stranded as
Joseph Salerno struck out swinging and
Saul Zoquier grounded out to end the ballgame.
John Jay gears up for their first home contest of the 2023 season, as they will play two against the visiting College at Old Westbury on Friday, March 10. Maimonides Park, the home of the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets, the Brooklyn Cyclones, is set for 12:00 p.m.
