Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WAYNE, NJ – Rutgers-Newark led in the late innings of each game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at William Paterson, but the Scarlet Raiders' season ended in a pair of losses, 5-3 and 5-4, on Jeff Albies Field.

The Achilles' Heel during the frustrating season has been the Scarlet Raiders' inability to protect a lead, and William Paterson (26-11, NJAC 13-5) drove the point home by rallying from two-run deficits in the seventh inning of the first game and the sixth of the nightcap.

IN THE SECOND GAME, junior rightfielder Jimmy Napolitano doubled down the left field line  to open the fifth inning and scored on an infield grounder to give the Raiders a 4-2 lead.  But the Pioneers rallied on three singles and a crucial throwing error to score three runs – two of which were unearned – in the bottom sixth.

Sophomore right-hander Andrew Nasti (2-3) was the hard-luck loser, giving up just three earned runs while scattering eight hits in six full innings of work.  Junior righty Michael Garcia blanked WPU over the final two innings, striking out four while allowing one a ninth-inning single.

Raider senior first baseman Ryan Maloney capped a two-run first inning with a two-out RBI single through the middle of the infield as the Raiders capitalized on an infield error after freshman shortstop Ryan Macfarlane was hit by a pitch to open the game.

Walks to leftfielder Cameron Dias and second baseman Gerry Patrizio wrapped around a single by catcher Dan Lopez set up an RBI single by Macfarlane in the fourth to push the Raider lead to three.

Back-to-back doubles followed by an RBI single by third baseman Rob Pasternak to start the bottom of the fourth sliced the Raider lead to 3-2.

Rutgers-Newark answered with a run in the fifth when Napolitano doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a single through the right side of the infield by designated hitter Graham Commesso and came home on a ground ball out off of the bat of Maloney.

But 4-2 would not hold up as catcher Vin Fondacaro, designated hitter Trevor Haughney and Pasternak opened the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles.  A wild throw on Pasternak's single allowed two runs to score and put Pasternak on third.  He scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

IN GAME ONE, Napolitano went three for five to pace a nine-hit attack, but the Raiders left 13 men on base.

After WPU took an early lead with a run in the second, Rutgers-Newark starter Chris Nichols settled down to turn in six solid innings.  The freshman righty scattered seven hits while striking out two and walking two as the Raiders scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to seize the lead.

Napolitano singled to lead off the fourth, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on an infield single by Maloney and scored on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Larangera to even the score.

Junior catcher Steve Tamayo singled to lead off the fifth and scored on a single through the middle by freshman leftfielder Michael Murray to give the Raiders their first lead of the game.

In the sixth, Kokos reached base on a one-out throwing error before back-to-back walks by Tamayo and Patrizio loaded the bases.  The Pioneers failed to turn a double play on a ground ball to third by Macfarlane to send Kokos home and make it 3-1, Rutgers-Newark.

But WPU chased Nichols with a double, a walk and a sacrifice bunt in the seventh before a two-run single by rightfielder A.J. Flores against reliever Jonathan Dominguez (0-5) knotted the score.  A fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Pasternak brought home the winning run before a double down the left field line by shortstop Rich Guillod capped the decisive four-run outburst.

The Raiders had chances in the final two innings, but stranded the tying run at third base each time. 

Freshman third baseman Brian Kokos doubled to open the eight and moved to third base on a two-out wild pitch.  But freshman reliever Frankie Colasante got Macfarlane to fly out to right field. 

In the ninth, the Rutgers-Newark loaded the bases on back-to-back one-out singles by Napolitano and Commesso followed by a walk to senior centerfielder Matt Larangera.  But, Colasante got Kokos to ground out to second to end the game.

Rutgers-Newark (8-31, NJAC 3-15) finished a disappointing season by falling in its last eight games.