Posted: Apr 19, 2025
Three’s a Charm for Phantoms in Region Win Over Union
UCNJ
(0-0)
10
Delaware County Community College
(0-0)
11
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UCNJ | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 16 | 0 |
|
Delaware County Community College | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 5 |
Media, PA and Cranford, NJ—DCCC Baseball picked up its first Region 19 victory of the season with a 11-10 walk-off win in the finale of a three-game series with UCNJ Union College of Union County. The team's 14-hit outing included a 3-for-3 performance by Jarrett Mayes. Landyn Washington set a single-season steals mark for Delaware County Community College during the weekend.
The Union Owls took the first two games 16-6 and 15-8. The Phantoms traveled to Cranford on Friday to open the series. DCCC struck first in the second inning with Darrick Smith's groundout RBI. Jarrett Mayes and Steven Perez II each collected two hits to lead the Phantoms' offense. Perez II, Josh Claycomb, Eric Engesser, and Smith each drove in a run.
The Phantoms racked up eight stolen bases—two each by Washington and Mayes. Jeremy Cronin took the loss, pitching three innings and allowing 12 runs (seven earned) on seven hits, while striking out three and walking three.
On Saturday, the Phantoms hosted Union in a doubleheader. The front half was a tightly contested 7-6 ballgame through five but became an outing of missed opportunities for DCCC as the Phantoms left seven runners in scoring position. The Owls capitalized to put the game out of reach, scoring eight runs in the last two frames. Matt Delacruz took the loss on the mound, pitching three innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits while striking out seven.
Michael Turner paced the offense, going 3-for-4 with singles in the first, fifth, and sixth innings. Washington drove in three runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Mayes and Claycomb also turned in two-hit performances. The Phantoms swiped 11 bags in total; Mayes (2), Benjamin Beasley (2), Claycomb (2), and Michael Turner (4) each recorded multiple steals.
The back half of the doubleheader saw the Phantoms pick up their first win against a current Region 19 opponent since May 2018. With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Engesser drew a bases-loaded walk to seal the victory.
The Phantoms came out hot, scoring five runs in the first inning behind a two-run single by Washington, a fielder's choice that brought in two more, and an RBI single from Brady Kopishke. They added three more in the second thanks to RBI singles from Mayes and Nathan Carroll.
After falling behind late, the Phantoms responded in the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice fly by Washington, a bases-loaded walk from Cronin, and Engesser's game-winning walk.
Washington led the team with three RBIs, while Cronin, Carroll, and Kopishke each had two-hit games. Gabriel Murphy drew two of the team's seven walks. The Phantoms stole nine bases, including three by Washington and two by Mayes.
Delacruz earned the win in relief, striking out four over 1.2 innings without allowing an earned run. Starter Hunter Whitten went five innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on 10 hits.
"While we haven't played a clean game yet, this win is the first game of the season where the team really rallied together," said DCCC Head Coach Ryan Hunter. "They didn't want to let each other down."
Washington now has the most team steals in a season since the Phantoms joined the NJCAA. The previous record was held by Alex Walsh, who stole 19 bases in 2016. Four others (Turner, Murphy, Beasley, and Mayes) are also on pace to eclipse Walsh's previous record with a dozen games remaining.
Next up, the Phantoms play a doubleheader at Ocean County College on Tuesday, April 22.