NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark junior right-hander Ryan Williams lost a pitchers' duel against Stevens senior lefty Joe Finora, 2-1, in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. 

Stevens 2, Rutgers-Newark 1

Williams (0-3) struck out six and walked three while scattering seven hits over eight innings of work, but the Scarlet Raiders (6-10) could not figure out Finora (3-1) who threw 133 pitches to get the complete-game victory. He struck out nine and walked four against just four hits.

One of those hits was a solo home run over the leftfield wall by junior leftfielder Michael Cassese in the bottom of the sixth which tied the score at 1-1. It was Cassese's fifth homer of the season.

The Raiders loaded the bases with no one out following Cassese's blast with junior shortstop Patrick Reitemeyer and senior third baseman Joe Furnaguera wrapping singles around an infield error which allowed senior designated hitter Anthony Yeswita to reach base. But, Finora posted a strikeout before coaxing an infield ground ball for a force play at the plate to set up an inning-ending fly ball to centerfield.

The Ducks (7-10) had taken a 1-1 lead in the top of the sixth on back-to-back doubles by leftfielder Anthony Andrews and senior centerfielder Mark Rasulo.

Stevens got the game-winning run in the eighth when second baseman Mike Pagliaro opened the inning with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a 2-out single to leftfield by sophomore designated hitter T.J. Alcorn.

Senior closer Michael Hansen pitched the ninth for the Raiders, getting two quick outs before loading the bases on a walk, a hit batter and an infield single. He quelled the threat by striking out Andrews.

Freshman pinch hitter Owen Harshaney was stranded on third in the bottom of the ninth. He drew an inning-opening walk before sophomore catcher Anthony Palladino bunted him over to second. He stole third with two out, but sophomore rightfielder Chris Ballester grounded to second to end the game.

Rutgers-Newark hosts a pair of non-conference games in Riverfront Stadium this week. The Raiders take on Baruch College at 3:30 on Tuesday and Keystone College at 3 o'clock on Wednesday.