By Jhett Laurie
Staff Writer
The Lions started their week of New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament play by taking on Montclair State for the third game in a row. Star senior pitcher Jackson Malouf took the mound for the Lions in hopes of shutting down Montclair’s offense.
The Red Hawks got up early when they scored a run in the top of the second. The Lions roared back in the bottom of the fourth, with seniors Zach Hochheiser and Andrew Fernandez collectively driving home three runs.
Malouf would continue to dominate Montclair State on the bump, giving up only one hit after allowing a run. The College would add some run security in the bottom of the sixth when junior Brian Lovaglio hit a double to score two runs.
In the bottom of the seventh, a series of hits from senior Justin Marcario, junior Tyler Provost and Hochheiser would lead to three more runs for the Lions. Malouf would come out of the game in the top of the eighth after a strong seven innings. The Red Hawks attempted to rally, however they fell short of the Lions’ seven-run lead.
The Lions won their first game of the NJAC Tournament 8-5 after strong performances from Malouf and sophomore Evan Frank on the mound and fifth-year Gianni Marano at the plate, recording two doubles.
The College then traveled to Montclair on May 4 to take on No. 13 Rowan for their second game of the NJAC Tournament. The Profs got off to a hot start, putting up six runs over the first three innings.
The Lions were in hot pursuit as a fourth inning rally saw them even the score after Fernandez hit a solo home run and senior Ryan Goodall scored two on a single. The teams would exchange blows in the fifth, each scoring a run to keep the game tied.
The game slipped away in the top of the sixth as a strong inning gave Rowan a three-run lead over the Lions. The team failed to capitalize on a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the seventh, which sealed their fate, as they lost 12-7.
Dropping the game resulted in the Lions moving to the losers’ bracket for the remainder of the tournament. Senior Mike LaGravenis had an outstanding day at the plate, going 4-5 with a double. Fernandez also stayed on a hot streak, recording a home run and his second double of the tournament.
The College now faced a tremendous task in their third game. After being upset by Rutgers-Camden in the first game of the tournament, No. 7 Kean also fell into the losers’ bracket.
Malouf was set to make his second appearance of the tournament after dominating Montclair State in the first round. Marcario got the team on the board at the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to score junior Jack O’Donnell.
Fernandez would then record his second home run of the tournament, ripping a home run over the left field wall to add to the Lions' lead. Malouf was stellar on the mound, keeping the Cougars at bay long enough for Fernandez to strike again, hitting his second home run of the day.
Marcario and Marano would each drive in runs in the fifth and sixth innings, giving the team a 5-0 lead. Kean would score their lone run in the bottom of the sixth; however, the Lions would immediately answer with three runs of their own in the top of the seventh. LaGravenis would beat out a ball hit in the infield to stop the Cougars from turning two. This brought Provost home and set up Fernandez to score on a wild pitch.
Sixth-year Ben Amon came in to relieve Malouf in the bottom of the eighth after giving up only one run over seven innings. Hochheiser would seal the win in the top of the eighth with an RBI double, giving the Lions a 9-1 win.
Fernandez has been outstanding for the Lions when it matters most, going 7-9 with six extra base hits and five RBIs. Malouf has also been tremendous on the mound, leading the way for both of the Lions’ victories.
The Lions are set to face off against Rowan on May 9 before the winner of that matchup takes on Rutgers-Camden for the NJAC Championship.
