By Joseph Caruso
Sports Editor
The College’s baseball team opened up New Jersey Athletic Conference play this week, sweeping a double-header against Rutgers-Newark to extend their win streak to four games.
After starting the season off just 7-10, first-year head coach Chris Collazo was in need of answers, and quickly if the Lions wanted to avoid a disastrous season.
Last week, the College hosted two non-conference opponents back-to-back before kicking off NJAC play, first facing off against Widener last Wednesday.
This was the first home game of the season for the Lions, returning from their long trip in South Carolina eager to rack up some wins at George Ackerman Park.
Eight different Lions pitched in a bullpen game on Wednesday, with each of them commanding an inning of their own. In the bottom of the third, the College evened the score at one after a sacrifice fly from senior catcher Brian Lovaglio.
After falling behind 3-1 in the top of the fifth, the College stormed back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs to catapult them in front, with a fielder's choice hit by freshman Joe Tammaro to put the Lions ahead 4-3 after six innings.
A two-run single from Lovaglio put the College ahead three runs in the bottom of the eighth, and junior pitcher Jalen Maharaja held on for the save, as the Lions secured a victory in their first home game, 7-6.
It was an impressive win for the College, erasing a deficit in a must-win game with eight different arms commanding the mound for the Lions.
On Thursday, Collazo’s squad looked to carry momentum against Haverford in their final non-conference game before NJAC play commences.
Similarly to their previous victory, the Lions found themselves trailing after five innings, down 4-3 in the late stages of the game. Lovaglio came through yet again, singling down the third base line to vault the Lions ahead, 5-4. They would add an insurance run thanks to a throwing error.
For the second straight day, it was Maharaja in for the save, putting down Haverford in a scoreless inning, as the Lions claimed their second straight victory, 6-4.
The College was now riding some much needed momentum, carrying a win streak into their first NJAC matchup, a double-header against Rutgers-Newark.
In the first game, senior John DiCostanzo was the story. Looking for his first win of the year on the mound, DiCostanzo pitched a nine-inning complete game, striking out three while allowing just one run.
The offense also came through late, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the Lions ahead, as sophomore Michael Contiliano came through with a huge two run single with the bases loaded, as the College held on to win the first game 4-1 on the back of the first win from DiCostanzo.
For the first time during their short win streak, the College scored the first run of the game, and even jumped ahead 3-0 in the first two innings. Sophomore pitcher Jack Reardon tossed three scoreless innings to start the game.
Junior Jake Carter got things started with a two-run single in the bottom of the first, and the College never looked back after that, scoring six unanswered before Rutgers-Newark finally got on the board in the final inning. Lovaglio had another stellar day as well, cashing in three runs batted in to go along with two hits.
Marking their fourth straight victory, the Lions now sit above .500 for the first time since the first game, now at 11-10. Collazo’s team now sits in a great position in terms of NJAC play, but will have four of their next five games on the road, as they host Rutgers-Camden for their next game on Thursday, April 2.
