BOX SCORE
Boyertown, Pa. (May 18, 2007) – Fourth-seeded Gwynedd-Mercy College scored seven runs in the second inning and held off several The College of New Jersey rallies to advance in the loser’s bracket, 9-6, at the 2007 NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Baseball Tournament in Bear Stadium.
The Griffins (32-11) took the early 7-0 lead on just three hits and one Lion error. Senior Anthony Capella (Philadelphia, PA) doubled home two runs to start the scoring and crossed home plate two batters later on a fielder’s choice. After a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, a TCNJ throwing error plated the fourth run and left the bases loaded.
With two outs in the inning sophomore Tim McMenamin (Maple Shade, NJ) laced his second single of the inning up the middle scoring two runs. While the play was ending, the New Jersey pitcher and catcher went out to the mound but forgot to call time and junior Mark Mattes (Doylestown, PA) scampered home with the seventh run of the inning.
The College of New Jersey (34-11) wasted no time starting its comeback scoring one run in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double from senior PJ Anzelone (Vernon, NJ). In the third inning the Lions cut the deficit down to 7-5 with four runs as senior Gerard Haran (Matawan, NJ) hit his 13th home run of the season, a two run shot to left-center field, Anzelone collected his second RBI of the game on a ground ball to first base, and senior Matt Zonies (Marlton, NJ) scored the last run of the inning on an error by the pitcher on Anzelone’s ground ball.
Sophomore Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ) continued the comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left-center field but that shot ended the scoring for the Lions as senior Matt Daley (Philadelphia, PA) entered the game one batter later and blanked TCNJ over the next 5 2/3 innings to improve to 5-1 on the year. Daley allowed just two hits and struck out two in relief.
GMC added two insurance runs on a two-run home run from sophomore Nick DiEnno (Philadelphia, PA) in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Brad Kittle (Millville, NJ) took the loss for the Lions falling to 2-4 on the year. He lasted 4 2/3 innings allowing seven hits and four earned runs while striking out six.
McMenamin was the lone player with multiple hits (two) in the nine-hit attack for the Griffins, while McMenamin, DiEnno and Cappella each knocked in two runs in the win. Haran finished his glorious career with 49 career home runs and was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI’s. Zonies also had two hits and two runs scored in the loss.
Gwynedd-Mercy advances to play Johns Hopkins University in the loser’s bracket championship game this evening beginning at 8:00 pm.
#4 Gwynedd-Mercy 9, #2 The College of New Jersey 6