New Jersey City, NJ (March 22, 2023) - Chris Sasso struck out 12 batters in six innings of work as Alvernia University (11-6) came away with a 6-2 win over New Jersey City College (4-8) on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at NJCU.

Alvernia jumped out a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Mike Ramundo singled through the left side to score Cameron Able. 

After Sasso retired the first six batters for NJCU, Alvernia tacked onto its lead in the top of the third. Zach Rogacki scored the first run of the inning on a solo homer to right center. Brandon Smith then drove in Ramundo on a single to left to make it a 3-0 game in favor of Alvernia. 

Sasso gave up his first hit of the afternoon in the top of the third, but the runner was thrown out during the next at bat as he was caught stealing by Rogacki. Sasso then struck out two more batters for the final two outs of the inning. He continued to deal in the bottom of the fourth, striking out two more and forcing a ground out back to the mound. 

As Alvernia's success at the plate slowed, Sasso stayed hot on the mound. He struck out three more in the bottom of the fifth, and retired the final three batters he saw in the bottom of the sixth as he left the game with 12 strikeouts, two hits allowed, and a 3-0 lead. 

Alvernia took advantage of NJCU mistakes in the top of the eight to add some insurance runs. Smith scored on a failed pickoff attempt by NJCU to make it a 4-0 game, and Mike Pulcini came around to score on a single through the right side by Evan Thomas. Billy Dougar, who was walked earlier in the inning, scored the final run of the game on a Rogacki single to make it a 6-0 game with an inning and a half to play. 

The Gothic Knights got two back in the bottom of the eighth on back-to-back errors by the Golden Wolves. NJCU then stranded two in the bottom of the ninth as Alvernia came away with the 6-2 win.

Sasso led Alvernia with 12 strikeouts and two hits allowed to pick up his first win of the season. His 12 strikeouts are the most in a game since John Catchmark struckout 14 against Stevenson in 2017. Rogacki and Ramundo finished with three hits each for Alvernia and one run scored. Rogacki also had two RBIs, and Ramuno had one RBI. 

Alvernia is back in action on Friday hosting York in the first of a three game MAC Commonwealth series.