NEWARK, NJ – The Rutgers-Newark baseball team will kick off its 2012 season at the 11th Annual Beefsteak Bash Fundraising Dinner on Saturday, February 4, in the Paul Robeson Campus Center on the Rutgers-Newark campus.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with all proceeds helping to fund the Scarlet Raiders' spring break trip to California.

“This has become the major kick-off event for our season,” said 11th-year head coach Mark Rizzi. “The parents put a tremendous amount of effort into organizing this event. It has developed into something that everyone in the Rutgers-Newark Baseball community looks forward to.”

Last year was the program's most successful dinner to date with over 250 people in attendance. Catered by the tri-state “Beefsteak King” Nightingale's Catering, the dinner features a tricky tray with over $10,000 in prizes, as well as a 50/50 raffle.

Tickets are $40.00 and can be purchased by calling 973-353-1473 or emailing Coach Rizzi at mrizzi@newark.rutgers.edu.

Rutgers opens the 2012 season on February 17 in Myrtle Beach, SC, against Neumann University at Ripken Experience at 5:00 p.m.