Junior Connor Smith (West Caldwell, N.J.) fired a complete game seven hitter to lead the College of New Jersey Lions to their first victory of the 2014 season defeating the Suffolk University Rams, 9-3 on Sunday afternoon in Auburndale, Florida.

Sophomore John Rizzi (Long Hill, N.J.) was 3-for-4 on the day, while fellow classmate Garen Turner (Hainesport, N.J.) drove in four, including a bases clearing triple as part of a seven run second inning for the Lions.

Suffolk opened up the scoring plating a pair of runs in the top half of the first. Freshman Luke Ronchi (Randolph, N.J.) beat out an infield single to get the game going before advancing on a sacrifice bunt by senior Mac Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.). Senior Devan Jones (Roslindale, Mass.) would knock in the game's first run as he lined a single into right, before freshman Matt Brenner (Eliot, Me.) capped the inning off with a single through the left side of the infield to give Suffolk a 2-0 lead after half an inning.

The Lions would take advantage of three free passes and a hit batter in the bottom of the second to plate seven runs across the board. Sophomore Mark Mari (Bayonne, N.J.) would start the inning as he singled to left with one out. After back to back walks to load the bases, freshman Ben Varone (Marlton, N.J.) would take a fastball off the back with a full count to bring in a run. Rizzi would follow with a single before Turner's big blow, a triple to the centerfield fence would clear the bases making it a 7-2 game after two innings of play.

Turner would add an RBI double in the fifth as the Lions scored a pair more in that inning as junior Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, N.J.) also drove in a run with a base hit.

Brenner was the lone Suffolk player to record multiple hits on the day as he picked up two singles in the contest. Junior Frank Tierney (Hyde Park, Mass.) scored the Rams' third run in the seventh as he tripled with one out before coming around to score on a groundout by junior Justin Knight (Hackettstown, N.J.).

Smith picked up the victory on the mound going all nine innings while striking out seven hitters in the process. After settling down in the first inning he would retire eight consecutive batters up until the fourth inning. He would not allow any hits through the second to sixth innings until Tierney's triple broke up a string of 10 straight retired hitters.

Both teams will be back in action on Monday as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Lions will take on Dickinson College at 3:30pm while Suffolk plays Wartburg College at 10:00am.