Baseball sweeps doubleheader against #15 Middlesex

VINELAND - RCSJ-Cumberland Dukes Baseball faced another ranked Region 19 foe this weekend as Middlesex College rolled into town ranked 15th in the latest NJCAA National Poll.  And it seems as the Dukes winning streak was headed to its end as they trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the 5th.  All of Cumberland's fortunes would change as Angel Rodriguez would lace a double into the left centerfield gap to score Cole Shover who started the inning with a leadoff walk.

Then in the 6th inning, Ty Powell would reach on a 1-out single and would be driven in on a home run by Tyler Bunting.  In the final frame, Kory Jenkins would hit a leadoff single then stole second base.  David Rodriguez entered to pinch hit and would drill a hard-hit single to right field to score Jenkins.  Kyle Kennedy would come on to pinch run for Rodriguez and then stole second base who would then advance to third on an errant throw.  Vincent Bognanni, who was at the plate as Kennedy made his way to third, would reach base via hit by pitch setting up the dramatic base-hit bunt by Ty Powell that would score Kennedy and seal the victory, 5-4.  Austin Wokock went the distance for the Dukes scattering 6 hits and giving up 4 runs.

In Game 2, Tyler Bunting would start the scoring with his second home run of the day with a deep drive to left field. Middlesex would answer with a run of their own in the top half of the 2nd but the Dukes would answer in the 3rd inning with a sacrifice fly by Brinden Floyd to score Ty Powell.  Middlesex would tack on three runs in the 4th and 5th innings to take a 4-2 lead into the 6th inning.  Cumberland would take advantage of Middlesex misfortune as a Brinden Floyd double would be sandwiched between Tyler Bunting and David Rodriguez reaching base via hit by pitch.  Jimmy Gallo would draw a bases loaded walk to bring the score to 4-3 and Chase Montgomery would deliver an RBI groundout to the tie the game at 4.  

In the bottom of the 8th, Kory Jenkins would hit a 1-out double to left and would reach 3rd after tagging up on a Jimmy Gallo flyout to right field.  After Chase Montgomery would be hit by a pitch, Jenkins would score on a wild pitch to clinch the doubleheader sweep with a 5-4 victory.  Joey Gallagher would earn his first collegiate victory after starting the 8th inning and did not allow a baserunner on.