Box Score

LA PLUME, PA – Keystone College rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to down stubborn Rutgers-Newark, 4-2, in a non-conference game on Christy Mathewson Field.

Scarlet Raider sophomore Andrew Nasti, starting his first game on the collegiate level, shut down the No. 13 nationally ranked Giants (15-5) for six innings, allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out five and walking three.  He walked off the mound with a 2-1 lead, allowing only a solo home run to junior second baseman Chris Bzozowski in the second.

Rutgers-Newark broke the scoring ice in the top of the second when freshman third baseman Brian Kokos, who was aboard on an infield error, scored from third on a ground ball to shortstop by freshman centerfielder Ryan Macfarlane.  A walk by junior catcher Steve Tamayo and a sacrifice bunt by senior leftfielder Matt Larangera moved Kokos into scoring position.

The Raiders took a 2-1 lead when sophomore reliever Michael Meszoros was called for a bases-loaded, two-out balk.  Singles by junior rightfielder Jimmy Napolitano and Kokos and a walk to Tamayo had filled the bases with one away.  A walk by Macfarlane reloaded the bags, but Meszoros got a strikeout to escape further damage.

Keystone erupted for three runs in the seventh against Raiders relievers Ryan Staub (0-1) and Chris Nichols.  After Staub surrendered a walk and an RBI double, Nichols was greeted with a two-run homer by senior catcher Gabriel Molina to finish the rally.

Rutgers-Newark (5-12) begins its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule at noon on Saturday against Montclair State in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.  It will be the first games of the season in the stadium for the Raiders.