NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark could not get started against Ramapo College ace PJ Cerreto in a 6-1 New Jersey Athletic Conference loss in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Freshman infielder Matt Goldberg was the only Raider with two hits – notching doubles in the third and fifth innings – as the Scarlet Raiders (15-16, NJAC 4-7) fell in conference play for the fourth straight time.

Cerreto (7-1) struck out 14 while yielding just six hits and two walks in a 143-pitch complete-game effort to help the Roadrunners (24-7, NJAC 7-4) run their winning streak to 10 games – including six straight in NJAC play.

Rutgers-Newark's lone run came in the sixth on a lead-off single by senior designated hitter Mike Ciaramello, a wild pitch and a 1-out RBI single through the right side of the infield by senior third baseman Tim Miller.

Freshman leftfielder Matt Bizzarro singled in the third and freshman pinch hitter Graham Commesso led off the seventh inning with a single for the other Raider hits.

Senior right-hander Connor Medler (4-5) took the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking one in five full innings of work.  Junior Matt Larangera and sophomore Michael Garcia turned in shut-out innings for relief in the sixth and seventh.

Junior designated hitter Matt Hancock went three for four with RBI singles in the first and third innings and a sacrifice fly in the ninth to pace Ramapo's 10-hit attack.  Senior rightfielder Joseph Somma delivered a pair of doubles, including a 2-out, 2-run shot down the right field line in the fifth which boosted the Roadrunner lead to 5-0.

The teams battle again of Friday with a 3:30 p.m. first pitch set on Jeff Maund Field on Ramapo's campus in Mahwah.

Rutgers-Newark visits league-leading Kean on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. for a crucial NJAC doubleheader as the Raiders battle to stay alive for one of six conference championship playoff berths.