Lions Back in the Win Column, Shipula Drives in Five Runs.

Yesterday, RVCC baseball traveled to Centenary University to face the County College of Morris in the first of a three-game Region XIX series. The Lions had been in a slump as of late, dropping their last five games after starting the season hot at 9–2. They dropped Wednesday's matchup against RCSJ-Cumberland, 16–12, down in Vineland, and a tough one in extra innings the day before in Toms River against Ocean CC. However, a new opportunity against CCM gave the Lions a chance to turn things around—and they did just that.

Freshman transfer Mike Shipula drove in five runs on three hits to lead RVCC past CCM by a score of 14–10. Shipula singled in the sixth, scoring two, doubled in the seventh, scoring one, and tripled in the ninth, scoring another. The bats were hot as RVCC collected 14 hits.

Morris jumped out to a quick lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs. The Lions responded in the top of the third, when sophomores Tommy Baase and Nick Sellitti were both hit by pitches. Raritan Valley played small ball, as freshman Andrew Kessler bunted them over to second and third, and Mike Shipula drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

RVCC tied the game in the top of the sixth with a six-run inning of their own and took the lead, 11–7, in the seventh when the Lions scored four more runs. Andrew Kessler doubled, driving in two, and Shipula's double drove in another.

Sophomore Joey Sanchez earned his second victory of the season for Raritan Valley. The righty gave up six hits and two runs over two and one-third innings, striking out one and walking none. Freshman Kevin Pepe started the game for RVCC. He allowed five hits and seven runs (three earned) over four innings of work, striking out four and walking four. Sophomore Ray Nault earned the save, pitching the final two and two-thirds innings.

RVCC accumulated 14 hits in the game. Mike Shipula and Robby Wright each had three hits, while Andrew Kessler and Ben Hernandez each had two. The Lions' offense also showed patience at the plate, tallying eight walks in the game. Nick Sellitti, Robby Wright, Tommy Baase, Teddy Garcia, and Ben Hernandez each stole two bases. The Lions were aggressive on the basepaths, piling up 11 stolen bases.

With the win, Raritan Valley improves to 10–7 on the season and 1–3 in Region XIX play. The final two games of the series will be played Monday as a doubleheader at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ, with games scheduled for 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. However, RVCC's next games are tomorrow, as the Lions travel to Middletown, NY, to face Orange County CC in a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m.