Box Score
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA – Rutgers-Newark could not hold onto a late lead against host Hampden-Sydney, falling 10-7 in the Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament at Ty Cobb Ballpark.
The Tigers (7-6-1) posted five runs in the seventh and one in the eighth against the Scarlet Raider bullpen to erase a solid start by junior righthander
Michael Garcia. Garcia gave up just two earned runs while striking out four and walking four against five hits in six full innings of work before leaving with a 7-4 lead.
Rutgers-Newark (2-4) battled from behind to take the lead on the hitting of first baseman
Vin Troisi, shortstop
Kevin Olah and catcher
Christian Kasa who combined for five of the Raiders' 10 hits and drove in five runs.
In the seventh, a bases-loaded wild pitch brought home centerfielder
Matt Larangera before an infield grounder to second by third baseman
Brian Kokos brought home rightfielder
Jimmy Napolitano who was aboard via a fielder's choice to up the Raider lead to 7-4.
Home runs by catcher James Kelley, shortstop Beau Flinchum and catcher Christian Hamlett against Raider relievers
Anthony Caravano (0-1) and
Mark Bruscino brought in five runs in the bottom of the eighth and staked the Tigers to a 9-7 lead.
Troisi's 2-out, 2-run single in the sixth inning gave Rutgers-Newark its first lead of the game at 5-4 against reliever Garrett Birnbaum. Birnbaum gave up a walk to Napolitano, a single to Kokos and a bunt single to second baseman
Gerry Patrizio to load the bases before Troisi's clutch hit.
Garcia got in trouble in the first allowing a 2-out double by first baseman Jeff Gray ahead of a 2-RBI single centerfielder Andrew Tucker. The Tigers tacked on a pair of unearned runs without the ball leaving the infield in the third on a pair of Rutgers-Newark errors to take a 4-0 lead.
Olah ripped a bases-loaded 2-run single in the fifth to get the Raiders on the board against sophomore starter Zach Whitaker who had allowed just two hits during the first four innings. Kasa followed with an RBI single and suddenly Rutgers-Newark was back in the ballgame at 4-3. The Tigers turned a double play to get Whitaker out of the inning.
The Raiders committed a season-high four errors to allow a total of five unearned runs.
Rutgers-Newark takes on Franklin & Marshall at 11 a.m. Sunday to wrap up their play in Virginia.
