MAHWAH, NJ – Rutgers-Newark fell, 3-2, to Ramapo College in a crucial New Jersey Athletic Conference game on Jeff Maund Field.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Scarlet Raiders (15-17, NJAC 4-8) led 2-0 after the top of the fifth, but the Roadrunners (25-7, NJAC 8-4) rode solid pitching and timely hitting to put Rutgers-Newark in danger of missing the six-team NJAC Championship Tournament.

Sophomore rightfielder Jimmy Napolitano, who went three for four, was in the middle of the Raiders' two-run outburst in the fifth.  Sophomore first baseman Vin Troisi doubled with one out before Napolitano singled to center field with two away for the first run of the game.  A throwing error on a ground ball off the bat of senior third baseman Tim Miller allowed Napolitano to score from first for the final tally.

But those were the only runs that the Raiders would score as they stranded a dozen runners – including three on third base.

Junior righthander Kyle Van Vliet turned in seven solid innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits and three walks while striking out six. 

Junior reliever Matt Larangera (3-6) took the loss when pinch hitter John Capuano singled to lead off the ninth and score on a double to leftfield by junior leftfielder Dave Jacob.

Van Vliet, who gave up an unearned run in the fifth, cruised into the seventh inning before getting into real trouble.  After getting two outs, he issued a walk and hit a batter to set up an RBI single to right field by senior shortstop Marco Carolla which tied the game.

Senior centerfielder Chris Ballester went two for five for the Raiders who slipped to eighth place in the NJAC standings with six games remaining.

Rutgers-Newark visits Kean for an NJAC doubleheader on Saturday.  First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m. in Union.