UNION, NJ – Junior third baseman Joe Furnaguera came up with the game-winning double and the game-saving catch in the 10th inning as Rutgers-Newark survived a bullpen collapse to open its New Jersey Athletic Conference slate with a 7-6 win over No. 9 Kean. 

NCAA Box Score & Play-by-Play

Furnaguera, who went three for five, hammered a double to left center field to plate pinch runner Michael Dennis, who was on board following a lead-off single by junior designated hitter Anthony Yeswita, to boost the Scarlet Raiders (10-5, NJAC 1-0) into the lead. 

In the bottom of the tenth, Furnaguera made a diving grab of a line drive with end the game with the tying run on third, turning sophomore reliever Michael Hansen from goat to winning pitcher. 

The win marked the fourth straight victory over a Top 20 team by the Radiers who swept a twinbill over No. 15 Cal Lutheran before capping their spring break trip to the West Coast with a win over No. 19 Redlands.

Senior left-handed starter Kevin Matawa carried the Raiders into the eighth with a 6-2 lead, but he was pulled after yielding a lead-off triple. The Cougars (15-5, NJAC 1-1) notched two runs in the eighth and two in the ninth against Raider relievers to send the contest into extra innings before Furnaguera's heroics ended the contest. 

The Raiders scored four runs in the third inning capped by a bazaar pop-fly out to the catcher. Starting pitcher Colin Feneis failed initially failed to cover the plate on the ball fouled straight back which resulted in a throwing error by the catcher which allowed sophomore shortstop Patrick Reitemeyerand Yeswita – who were aboard following singles – to both score to give R-N a 4-2 lead.  Back-to-back walks to sophomore rightfielder Steve Giordano and sophomore second baseman Matt Connors set the table for the uprising before Reitemeyer and Yeswita followed the RBI singles.

Furnaguera gave the Raiders a 5-1 lead in the sixth, opening the frame with an infield single, stealing second and scoring on a one-out single to left field by senior catcher Gerard Russomanno.

Connors led off the seventh with a single to rightfield and scored on a wild pitch to boost the Rutgers-Newark lead to 6-2.

The Raiders continue NJAC play tomorrow with a doubleheader at The College of New Jersey set for noon in Ewing.  Rutgers-Newark makes up their rained-out contest with New Jersey City on Monday at 3:30 p.m. in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.