NEWARK, NJ – Freshman catcher Monica Liotto's single through the middle of the infield in the eighth lifted Rutgers-Newark to a 3-2 win over Baruch, giving the Scarlet Raiders a split of the non-conference doubleheader on Alumni Field.

Baruch 3, R-N 0      R-N 3, Baruch 2

In the nightcap, rookie pitcher Samantha Veneziano (1-3) picked up the victory by scattering seven hits while striking out five and walking three in eight full innings. She escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth by posting a strikeout.

Rutgers-Newark (4-6) climbed out of a 2-run deficit after Baruch jumped on Veneziano for a triple and two singles in the top of the first. But those were the last Bearcat runs.

Senior leftfielder Amber Affholter led off the fourth with a triple into the left centerfield gap and scored when the Baruch pitcher overthrew the catcher on a fielder's choice off the bat of Liotto. Liotto score the tying run on a double to left centerfield by sophomore shortstop Tina Aita.

Baruch stranded four runners on third base, including the runner placed at second to begin the extra inning. The Raiders turned a decisive double play to end the top of the eighth. With the go-ahead runner at third via a sacrifice bunt, junior third baseman Ashley Angeli threw to first to get the batter before second baseman Emily Ibarra, who covered first on the play, threw home to Liotto who tagged out the runner.

Ibarra, who was the Raiders runner at second to begin the eighth, was bunted to third by Affholter before Liotto hit a hard grounder just to the right of second base to end the evening.

In the opener, freshman right-hander Angela Riscinti (2-4) was the hard-luck loser in a 3-0 decision. Riscinti gave up just three hits while striking out two and walking three, but Baruch's Nicole Flint (1-2) countered with a 5-hit, 8-strikeout shutout.

Junior centerfielder Jessica Zelaya pace the Raiders with a pair of singles and a stolen base, but Flint did not allow a runner beyond second base in the game.

Rutgers-Newark is back on Alumni Field on Saturday, hosting Wells College in a noon doubleheader.