The No. 1 nationally ranked Roadrunner baseball team finished a productive weekend swing, winning 2 of 3 games from Salem Community College while hanging on to defeat Mercer CCC 14-12 in a slugfest on Sunday.
Against the Vikings Sunday, the Runners rallied from an early 6-3 deficit to record the triumph. Leftfielder Aaron Graeber smashed a home run and collected three hits and four RBIs to lead the offensive assault. Mitch Balint also cracked a pair of doubles and drove in three runs to help out the hitting attack.
The Runners wrapped up a three-game set against Salem CC by winning two of three games. After winning 10-1 Friday at home, the two teams split a doubleheader at SCC Saturday as the Mighty Oaks won the opener 1-0 while the Runners rolled 12-0 in Game 2.
In Game 1 Saturday, the Runners' offense was shot down by the Mighty Oaks' pitching staff. Only rightfielder Shawn Dougherty and shortstop Jimmy Bruno managed base hits for the Runners.
Despite the loss, RCSJ starting pitcher Angel Cespedes scattered four hits, allowed no runs and struck out 8 in five innings of work.
Coach Rob Valli's team improved to 13-3 overall as they get back to work Wednesday in a 4 pm home game against County College of Morris in a 3:30 pm start.
Preview of Series vs. Salem CC
Roadrunner Baseball is off to a solid 10-2 start this spring, including its selection as the No. 1 team in the NJCAA Division III National Rankings. It is a lofty perch that is well-deserved at the national level following the Runners' impressive 14-8 triumph over previously unbeaten Delaware Tech (19-1) on the road Tuesday afternoon.
But it is also a ranking that head coach Rob Valli cares little about.
"I guess it sounds nice when you see it posted out there on social media," said Valli, who recently picked up his 600th career win. "But our bottom line is always to come prepared to play every game. Everyone is gunning for us, and we need to prove ourselves on the field."
Against a solid Del-Tech squad, No. 4 in the NJCAA D-II National Rankings, slugger Shawn Dougherty took matters into his own hands by blasting a home run and knocking in five runs. The Runners raced to a 4-0 first inning lead and extended the margin to 12-0 by the top of the third inning. Third baseman Felix Diaz collected a home run and three RBIs while a host of Runner hurlers held off a late DT rally, with Billy Hoffacker (2-0) picking up the win.
RCSJ will host Salem Community College Friday afternoon, and the Mighty Oaks -- despite their 8-11 record -- has proven a tough opponent in recent years.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm for the single-game 9-inning contest. The game is the first in a three-game set with a doubleader set for Saturday at Salem CC.
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