JERSEY CITY, NJ - Saint Joseph’s College overpowered New Jersey City University, 20-8, in game one behind a school-record nine RBIs from junior left fielder Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) and capitalized on four NJCU errors in game two, scoring four unearned runs to rally for an 8-5 victory in the nightcap, in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. It was the 2010 home opener for NJCU; game one was a nine-inning contest while game two was seven innings.

 Saint Joseph’s improves to 5-4 overall and leads the all-time series, 4-1. NJCU dropped its third straight, falling to 3-7.

 In defeat, sophomore left fielder ROB GONZALEZ (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) combined to go 5-for-9 with four runs and two RBIs in the doubleheader while junior third baseman/shortstop MICHAEL FIORENTINO (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach) collected five RBIs on the day. Keneborus, who broke a 23-year-old SJCME record with nine ribbies in game one, had a total of 10 in the twinbill.

 GAME 1:  

The Monks posted four big innings, tallying four runs in the first, five in the second, and four in the third to claim a 13-3 lead, before cementing the win with six runs in the sixth. NJCU had drawn within 4-3 with three runs in the bottom of the first, and crossed the plate four times in the fourth, trimming the deficit to 13-7. The Monks outhit NJCU, 25-13.

Keneborus was 3-for-5 with the nine RBIs and three runs, finishing with three extra base hits. He had a first-inning grand slam and two doubles, including a bases-clearing two-bagger in the sixth. He surpassed the single-game SJCME mark of eight RBIs by Kevin Fenderson against New England College on April 27, 1987.

The Monks received a 5-for-5 showing from junior right fielder Eric LaBatte (Rochester, NH/Spaulding), who scored four times and had three RBIs. Junior shortstop/third baseman Chris Campbell (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) was 4-for-6 with four runs in the leadoff role. Senior first baseman Ben Grant-Roy (Biddeford, ME/Biddeford) contributed three RBIs, going 2-for-3 with three runs.

In all, eight SJCME players had multiple hits in the game, five players scored at least three runs and four had multi-RBI efforts. All-American catcher Ian Lee (Hampden, ME/Hampden Academy) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Freshman center fielder Nate Martin (Chebeague Island, ME/Greely) was 2-for-5 with three runs. Senior second baseman Mike Burdin (Gardiner, ME/Gardiner) was 2-for-5 and freshman third baseman Nick Saunders (Brooksville, ME/George Stevens) was 2-for-4.

Fiorentino led NJCU with four RBIs, going 2-for-5 with two doubles. He had a one-out, three-run double in the fourth inning. Gonzalez was 3-for-5 with three runs. Senior catcher/designated hitter ALEX MENA (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) and junior first baseman JORDAN TETRICK (Delray Beach, FL/Radnor (Pa.)) each was 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI. Sophomore designated hitter/catcher FRANCISCO RAMIREZ (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) was 2-for-3 in the opening game.

Senior All-American right-hander Pat Moran (Winterport, ME/Hampden Academy) earned the win, despite allowing seven runs and eight hits. Moran, who struck out 75 batters while walking only six last year, fanned eight Gothic Knights without walking a batter in the game, and allowed just three earned runs, improving to 2-0 overall. Four SJCME relievers closed out the win.

NJCU sophomore THOMAS VERMAZEN (San Diego, CA/Point Loma) took the loss (0-2), allowing nine runs and eight hits, striking out and walking two. Four NJCU relievers followed him and a pair of rookies posted impressive performances out of the bullpen. Right-hander JOSEPH MONAHAN (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington), who was the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Week on March 8,  allowed just one run and six hits, with five strikeouts and one walk in 2.2 innings of work. Left-hander PEDRO GARCIA (North Bergen, NJ/St. Joseph of the Palisades) made his career debut and did not allow a hit in the ninth inning, with one strikeout and one walk.

GAME 2:

Saint Joseph’s jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead before NJCU scored single runs in the first, second and third innings to tie it. The Monks regained a 4-3 lead in the fourth before Gonzalez put the Knights in front with a two-run double as NJCU claimed a 5-4 advantage. But the Monks scored two runs in the sixth for a 6-5 lead and added two insurance runs in the seventh for an 8-5 final margin. Three of the Monks’ final four runs were unearned as NJCU committed several late errors. Each team had nine hits and left seven batters on base.

For NJCU, Gonzalez was 2-for-4 with the two-RBI double and one run while Mena and Tetrick each hit their first homeruns of the season—solo homers to left field.  Ramirez was 2-for-3 in game two while handling the catching duties, and was a combined for 4-for-6 in the doubleheader. Freshman second baseman BRIAN BUSTILLO (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) was 2-for-2.

SJCME received a 2-for-4, two-RBI effort by Martin, who finished the doubleheader with four hits in nine at-bats. Lee was the designated hitter in the game and went 2-for-4 while senior catcher Travis Adams (Saco, ME/Thornton Academy) was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.

NJCU sophomore righty NELSON MALDONADO (Newark, NJ/St. Mary’s (Jersey City)) had a fair outing, allowing only four earned runs (six overall) and seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 6.0 innings. Junior righty JEFF KARCZEWSKI (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) allowed two unearned runs on two hits in 1.0 innings after an infield error in the seventh.

Junior right-hander Mason Roberge (Franklin, NH/Franklin) earned the win in relief (2-1). In 1.2 innings, he allowed one hit with a walk and strikeout, while facing seven batters. Senior lefty Andrew Keirstead (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) earned his second save of the season. After Ramirez led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice, Keirstead stranded the tying run in a 6-5 game on third, before pitching a scoreless seventh. In 1.2 innings, he allowed no hits and one walk. Senior lefty Kyle Dorr (Berwick, ME/Noble) started but picked up a no-decision, leaving with the Monks down 5-4. He allowed five runs and eight hits with three K’s and one walk.

 Keneborus grounded out for an RBI in the first inning before a pair of RBI singles, including one by Adams made it 3-0. Fiorentino had an RBI single in the bottom of the first to score Gonzalez who led off with a hit. Tetrick made it 3-2 in the second with a solo homer and Mena launched his sixth career round tripper to a similar spot in the third inning to tie it. In the fourth, junior right fielder JORGE GUTIERREZ (Sewaren, NJ/Hudson Catholic) led off with a walk and Bustillo singled with one out before Gonzalez put NJCU in front with a two-run double.

But SJCME took the lead for good in the sixth when NJCU committed two errors in the middle infield. Martin tied it with an infield RBI single before LaBatte flew out to center for a go-ahead sac fly. In the seventh inning, NJCU dropped an infield popup, which led to two more runs. Saunders made it 7-5 with a single before Burdin tripled to right center to ice it.

NJCU is back in action on Sunday, March 21 at 12 p.m. when it hosts Saint Joseph’s College (Brooklyn). Meanwhile, SJCME concludes its trip to the New York area with a doubleheader at Saint Joseph’s College (Long Island).

COURTESY OF NJCU SPORTS INFORMATION