Flemington, NJ – Although the Centenary College baseball team outhit Neumann University 12-9, the Cyclones opened conference play with a 13-12 loss. With the loss, Centenary drops to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in CSAC play, while Neumann improves to 5-1 on the season and 1-0 in the league.
Centenary started off strong, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first and one in the second for a 4-0 lead heading into the third. A single up the middle by freshman
John Tierney sent home
Ryan Caparoni and
Joe Forcellini to open the scoring.
Neumann would get three runs back in the top of the third after an error allowed Daniel Nicolaisen to go home followed by a two-run homerun by Kyle Williams.
The Knights would keep the Cyclones scoreless in the bottom of the third and exploded with a seven-run inning in the fourth to take a 10-4 lead. The knights registered two hits, one of which was a double to left field clearing all three bases.
Trailing 12-5 in the sixth frame, the Cyclones clawed their way back over the next few innings to close the gap to within one run.
Centenary's
Joe Forcellini started things off with a single, followed by a two-run shot over the fence by
Ryan Caparoni (12-7).
Neumann would get one run back, but Centenary answered with three more in the seventh (13-10).
Kevin Litus and
Dave Raifsnider began the inning with back-to-back singles, while
Ryan Kanner walked. With the bases loaded, Chris Ohweiler stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter and sent a base clearing double out to left field to close the gap.
In the top of the eighth and Neumann threatening with one out and bases loaded, Centenary's
Chad Frankenfield stepped onto the mound and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Centenary would score two more runs in the bottom of the eighth after
Ryan Kanner blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence (13-12).
The knights were able to hold off the Cyclones in the ninth ending the game with a double play and a strikeout.
Centenary's
Mitchell Renz suffered the loss, while Neumann's Kristian DeLuzio recorded the win with the save going to Kevin Corris.
Caparoni finished the day going 3-for-5 with four RBI's, while Forcellini also went 3-for-5 scoring twice. Kraivec fanned six Neumann batters in four innings pitched , while Frankenfield struck out four in 1.2 innings.
The Cyclones will travel to Florida for their next games at the Russ Matt Invitational beginning March 16
th against The College of New Jersey.
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