Dukes split doubleheader against Roadrunners

VINELAND - In what has slowly become a tradition, the RCSJ-Cumberland Dukes and the RCSJ-Gloucester Roadrunners face off as the two top-ranked teams in the NJCAA National Polls.  The 2022 version of this matchup had the Roadrunners entering this conference series ranked No. 1 while the Dukes were tabbed as No. 2.  However, if you ask both programs, the rankings are irrelevant when these two teams match up.  After Saturday's doubleheader, both teams proved that they were worthy of the accolades they have received so far this season.

Game 1

The front end of the doubleheader pitted both team's top arms against each, Gloucester's Angel Cespedes and Cumberland's Andrew Simone.  After Simone and Cespedes established themselves early, Cumberland would strike first with a James Hallman 2-run home run in the second inning to give the Dukes an early 2-0 lead.  Both pitchers would continue to dominate before Simone would relinquish his only run of the day in the 6th inning.  Simone would go 6 2/3 innings, scatter 5 hits and strike out 7 batters. Game 1 would end as a pitchers' duel as John Liberio would come in for a one-out close to seal the win for the Dukes, 2-1.

Game 2

As expected, the Roadrunners would not go quietly in game 2 as they would take an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.  The Dukes answered quickly with 2 runs of their own sparked by back to back doubles from Kevin Merrone and Matt Shepherd; Shepherd would later score on an error.  Cumberland would take a 3-1 lead after the 2nd inning, but the Roadrunners would slowly take hold on this game outscoring the Dukes 6-2 the rest of the way.  Merrone (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R) and Shepherd ( 4-4, 2 R, 1 RBI) would lead the Dukes offensively along with Casey Vaughan (2-3, 1 R).  Ben Maiers, James Hallman, Michael Guzzardo, and John Lockhart would all pitch in with a hit apiece.  Jacob Shapley got the start on the mound for the Dukes as he would pitch 4 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 earned runs, and striking out 3.  Shapley would be relieved by John Liberio who struck out 4 batters, gave up 2 earned runs, and scattered 3 hits in 3 innings of work.

The Dukes and Roadrunners will close out their series on Monday, April 11 at RCSJ-Gloucester.  First pitch scheduled for 3 PM.