CONTACT: Ira P. Thor

Sports Information Director, New Jersey City University

Phone: 201/200.3301

E-mail: ithor@njcu.edu

JONATHAN THOMAS EXTENDS HITTING STREAK TO 11 GAMES, BATTING AVERAGE TO .737, AS NJCU OUTSLUGS MINNESOTA-MORRIS, 14-12

• BOX SCORE  

FORT MYERS, FL (03/10/2004)…Senior left fielder JONATHAN THOMAS (Newark, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep) extended his hitting streak to 11 games and improved hit season batting average to .737 (14-for-19), while going 4-for-5, with three RBIs and two runs as New Jersey City University scored eight runs in the top of the first inning and led 11-3, before hanging on to defeat Division II-opponent University of Minnesota-Morris, 14-12, at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers.

The Gothic Knights (2-3) uncorked 24 hits in the game, scoring eight runs on nine hits in the first, including six consecutive hits at one point. NJCU added three in the second to jump out to the 11-3 advantage. The Cougars (0-5) scored three in the fifth to shave the deficit to 11-6. NJCU added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth to make it 13-6, before UMM tacked on four in the sixth to draw within 13-10. NJCU scored once in the seventh, while the Cougars ended with two more runs for the 14-12 final in seven innings.

All 10 players who came to the plate notched at least one hit for NJCU. Thomas had an RBI triple in the first inning, a double in the second, and an RBI single in the sixth which proved to be the eventual game-winning RBI. Senior first baseman WES BATISTA (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) finished 4-for-5, with three RBIs, two runs, and a two-run homerun in the second inning. Senior center fielder PATRICK MOORE ( North Arlington , NJ / North Arlington ) achieved a 3-for-5 day, with two runs, one RBI, and a triple and junior shortstop ANTHONY CAIVANO ( Lyndhurst , NJ /Queen of Peace) was 3-for-5 with two runs scored.

Junior catcher ATILLA SENGUL ( Ridgefield , NJ / Ridgefield Memorial) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs, including a first-inning RBI double.  Freshman third baseman WILFREDO DELVALLE ( West New York , NJ /Memorial) was 3-for-5 with one run and a seventh-inning RBI double that scored the 14^th run. Freshman right fielder PAUL GEIGER (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) had a big first inning, lifting a two-run single to finish 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Senior second baseman DENIS PEGUERO ( Newark , NJ /Queen of Peace) added a 2-for-5 showing.

Freshman right-hander TOM SUCHDOLSKI ( Belleville , NJ / Belleville ) earned his first collegiate victory (1-1), leaving with no outs in the fifth inning after facing three batters. In all, he pitched four innings, allowing four runs and seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

Junior righty DARLYN PENA (Union City, NJ/Union Hill), pitching for the third time in five days, didn’t have it, and he allowed seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings before senior right hander AARON GROSSMAN (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) came in to close out the game in the seventh. He allowed two hits and two unearned runs before striking out the final batter he faced to end the game.

The Cougars totaled 16 hits in the game, with eight coming in the fifth and sixth innings. Junior first baseman Brent Meissner ( Brandon , MN ) ended 4-for-5 with three runs scored, while junior left fielder Rory Rohrenbach ( Rapid City , SD ) was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run in a leadoff role. Senior Quinn Rosendahl ( New London , MN ) went 3-for-5 with a solo homerun in the third inning and two runs. Junior center fielder Andy Walker ( Wasilla , AK ) notched two RBIs in a 2-for-4 showing.

NJCU is back in action on Thursday at noon when it faces Illinois College before closing out the seven-game spring trip at noon on Friday against Carroll College (WI).