Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. – Freshman starter Joe Cirillo (Fairfield, NJ/DePaul Catholic) and junior reliever Joseph DiLorenzo (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) limited the Rutgers University-Camden offense to only four hits and one run as The College of New Jersey posted a 6-1 victory in a New Jersey Athletic Conference baseball game Thursday at Campbell's Field.
 
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Scarlet Raptors, who fell into a tie at the top of the NJAC standings with Rowan, both owning 9-2 conference records. Rutgers-Camden is 15-10 overall and 13-2 in its last 15 games.
 
TCNJ broke a two-game losing streak to raise its record to 13-12 overall and 6-5 in the NJAC. The Lions have won nine of their last 10 games against the Scarlet Raptors in the series.
 
Cirillo worked six innings of three-hit ball, allowing three walks and one earned run. He struck out six while raising his record to 4-1. DiLorenzo, meanwhile, earned his first save with three innings of one-hit shutout ball. He walked two and struck out two. The duo combined to hold the Raptors to their lowest run total since Rutgers-Camden suffered a pair of shutout defeats in a doubleheader loss against Trinity College March 20, during its spring break trip to Florida.
 
While their pitching was shutting down the Raptors, the Lions' offense collected 10 hits and took advantage of three Rutgers-Camden errors to produce three unearned runs against senior starter Jeff Singer (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross) and freshman reliever Allan Smith (Shamong, NJ/Seneca). Singer (3-2) worked seven innings, allowing eight hits, five runs (three earned) and one walk, while striking out five. Smith allowed two hits and one unearned run in his two innings of work.
 
TCNJ's junior center fielder John Rizzi (Long Hill, NJ/Watchung Hills) led off both the first and third innings by reaching base, getting sacrificed to second by junior designated hitter Mark Mari (Bayonne, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and eventually scoring a run. In the first, Rizzi was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-out single by junior right fielder Pat Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough). In the third, he singled, advanced on a sacrifice and a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep).
 
The Lions added three runs in the fourth inning on four hits, including a Rizzi RBI single, and two errors, including an infield pop up that fell for a two-run error.
 
Rutgers-Camden plated its lone run in the fifth, sparked by back-to-back singles from junior third baseman Brett Tenuto (Audubon, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and sophomore catcher Jon Theckston (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester Catholic). Tenuto scored on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Matthew McElhatton (Haddon Heights, NJ/Camden Catholic).
 
The Lions tacked on their final run in the ninth on a pair of hits and a two-out error.
 
Roberts went 3-for-5 for the Lions, while Rizzi and senior third baseman Michael Murray (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg) both added two hits.
 
Theckston increased his hitting streak to 10 games by going 1-for-4, while Tenuto was 1-for-3 with one run.
 
The two teams play again Friday in a 3:30 p.m. game at The College of New Jersey.