Dukes Baseball takes 3 of 4 games over the weekend

The RCSJ-Cumberland Dukes baseball team had a 4 game stretch this past weekend and were victorious in 3 of those contests. Head Coach Marco Carolla and the team first traveled on Friday (4-23) to Lincroft, NJ to face off against the Brookdale Community College Jersey Blues. The game would be highlighted by Catcher Matt Shepherd and Right Fielder Carelle Gonzalez. They both would collect 3 hits while homering for the Dukes. Kevin Merrone also added 4 RBI's of his own, while Gavin Gates hit 2 doubles.

Andrew Simone started the game on the mound for Cumberland and threw 4.1 innings while allowing 4 runs (0 earned). Simone struck out 5 Jersey Blues batters. He then gave way to Anthony Masselli and Scott Craig who completed the final frames with the Dukes winning Game 1 of the double header; 12-6.

Game 2 would also end in a 12-6 win for the Cumberland Dukes. This one was highlighted by outfielder Christian Lutz. He went 2 for 3 with a double, and a HR in the game. Lutz also collected 2 RBI's to go along with teammates James Costanzo (2), Gavin Gates (2), Matt Shepherd (3), and Josh Diaz-Pitre (1). Diaz-Pitre also hit a HR in Game 2. Michael Dodd and Jeremiah Lebron combined for 7 innings pitched and 5 earned runs as the Dukes swept the day from Brookdale Community College.

RCSJ-Cumberland traveled the next day to Raritan Valley Community College where they would fall short in Game 1 in walk-off fashion, 12-11. Carelle Gonzalez and Josh Diaz-Pitre hit a HR. Diaz-Pitre had 3 RBI's. In Game 2, the Dukes offense came to play. Gonzalez stayed hot at the plate as he went deep twice in the game and added 4 RBI's. Jake Gugliegmi, Nick Falcone, James Costanzo, and Diz-Pitre all doubled in the game as well. Jake Crawford held off the Golden Lions to 1 earned run over 5 innings pitched. Nelson Ocasio closed out the game for Cumberland, allowing 0 runs to score.

The Dukes return to action at home tomorrow (4-28) at 3:00 PM when they face the RCSJ- Gloucester Roadrunners. In the latest NJCAA National polls, the Roadrunners were ranked #1 in the country while the Dukes held the #4 ranking.