JERSEY CITY, NJ – Sophomore shortstop Tina Aita's 2-run, seventh-inning home run helped Rutgers-Newark stall a late New Jersey City rally and lift the Scarlet Raiders to a New Jersey Athletic Conference split at the Gerrity Athletic Complex. 

Rutgers-Newark 6, NJCU 4 
NJCU 8, Rutgers-Newark 3 

Rutgers-Newark (11-19, NJAC 1-9) took the opener 6-4 for its first NJAC win since April 24, 2007, before the Gothic Knights (14-14, NJAC 1-9) bounced back for an 8-3 decision in the nightcap. The last win for the Raiders in conference play was a 4-1 victory over The College of New Jersey in the opening game of a league twinbill. 

In the opener, Aita's second home run of the season gave the Raiders some breathing room at 6-3 after NJCU rallied for three runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the sixth against winning pitcher Angela Riscinti (8-9). The Gothic Knights scored another run on an error in the seventh before Riscinti coaxed a pop up to first to end the game. 

Riscinti scattered eight hits and struck out five while walking just one to edge NJCU freshman Ashley O'Beirne who tossed a 6-hitter with one strikeout and five walks. 

Freshman catcher Monica Liotto drove a 2-run double to left centerfield in the third inning to stake the Raiders to a 2-0 lead. 

In the fourth, Aita, who had reached on an infield error, scored on a single to left by Riscinti to push the lead to 3-0. 

Liotto walked, stole second and scored on a single to right centerfield by junior third baseman Ashley Angeli to boost the lead to 4-0 in the fifth. 

But doubles by freshmen Rebecca Satz and Samantha Rudick started and ended the Gothic Knights' three run outburst to trim the NJCU deficit to one. 

In game two, Satz hammered a second-inning grand slam as NJCU used seven hits and two walks to take an early 6-0 lead. Satz went three for four as did catcher Taylor Lang to lead the Gothic Knights' 15-hit attack. 

Rutgers-Newark managed just five hits off of senior Tara Perrucci (6-6). 

Losing pitcher Samantha Veneziano (3-10) drove in the first Raider run with a single down the leftfield line in the second. 

Freshman rightfielder Quiana Gleaves doubled to centerfield in the sixth to plate Aita. Aita was aboard via a fielder's choice following a lead-off double by rookie first baseman Monica Bagan. 

Liotto singled to drive in freshman rightfielder Nicole Odell, who was aboard after drawing a one-out walk in the seventh. 

Rutgers-Newark travels to Ramapo on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. NJAC doubleheader.