POMONA, NJ – Rutgers-Newark left 10 runners on base – including three in the top of the ninth – as Richard Stockton handed the Scarlet Raiders their first New Jersey Athletic Conference loss of the season, 3-2.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Junior third baseman Tim Miller led a 10-hit Raider offense with three singles, but Osprey pitchers Drew Holt, who went eight innings, and John Lightbody limited the damage to one earned run.

Senior righthander Ryan Williams (1-3) was the hard-luck loser, going the distance for Rutgers-Newark by scattering nine hits, walking just one and striking out two.

A lead-off walk in the second inning followed by back-to-back singles gave Stockton an early 1-0 lead. The Raiders twice scored in to top of ensuing innings only to see the Ospreys answer in the bottom of each frame.

The Raiders knotted the score in the top of the fourth when senior centerfielder Michael DiCenso singled and advance to second on a throwing error. A Miller singled moved DiCenso to third before an infield ground ball to second off the bat of Michael Cassese was misplayed to bring in an unearned run.

But catcher Nick Scalise delivered the first of his two crucial RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth to cap a three-hit spree and put the Ospreys back up by a run.

The Raiders (13-9, NJAC 5-1) again tied things up in the sixth when senior second baseman Matt Connors drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DiCenso and scored on a single by junior first baseman Chris Ballester to make it 2-2.

But designated hitter Marc Asta, who had the second-inning RBI for Stockton (16-8, NJAC 2-4), scored the game-winning run on a double by Scalise in the bottom of the inning. It was the only extra base hit among 19 in the contest.

In the ninth, Lightbody came on in relief and gave up a walk to junior designated hitter Mike Ciaramello. He saved his own mistake by picking off Ciaramello before giving up singles to sophomore catcher Christian Kasa and freshman leftfielder Jimmy Napolitano before walking Connors with two outs to load the bases. He then got a game-ending fly ball to centerfield.

Napolitano went two for four while Miller was three for three to account for half of the Raider hits.

Rutgers-Newark visits Alvernia University in Reading, PA, tomorrow for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game before returning to NJAC play in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Thursday against Montclair State.