Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Senior right-hander Michael Garcia carried Rutgers University-Newark through seven innings in a shutout pitchers' duel before Virginia Wesleyan erupted for four runs in the bottom of the eighth for a 4-0 decision in the Scarlet Raiders' season opener. The Marlins completed the sweep with an 8-5 win in game two of the doubleheader.

Garcia went seven full innings, scattering three hits while striking out five and walking four to offset the performance of Marlin junior right-hander Dylan Stoskus. Stoskus picked up the victory by blanking the Raiders for eight innings while striking out nine and walking three. Junior right-handed closer Jordan Miller got a double-play ground ball and a strikeout in the top of the ninth to close out the game.

Rutgers-Newark got a double from senior shortstop Kevin Olah plus singles by rightfielder Jimmy Napolitano, designated hitter Michael Murray and third baseman Brian Kokos against Stoskus.  Sophomore outfielder Cameron Dias delivered a 2-out pinch-hit single against Miller to give the Raiders two aboard in the top of the ninth before Miller ended the game with a strikeout.

Freshman third baseman Taylor Erbe, who went three for four, stroked the game-winning 2-run single against sophomore reliever Billy Taylor. After junior rightfielder Zach Bach doubled to center to put a pair of runners in scoring position with one away, freshman catcher C.J. Lindsay lifted a sacrifice fly to center and freshman first baseman Austin Gammon slapped an RBI single to cap the outburst.

The Raiders' best chance to score came in the second inning when sophomore centerfielder Ryan MacFarlane walked, Murray singled through the left side and Kokos was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no one out against Stoskus. But the Marlin starter got a fly ball out, a strikeout and an infield grounder to escape the jam.

IN GAME TWO, Rutgers-Newark erupted for four runs in the fourth inning to briefly take a 4-2 lead, but the Marlins bounced back with five runs over the next two frames to seize the lead for keeps.

Consecutive walks to Kokos, Napolitano and MacFarlane to open the fourth inning forced Virginia Wesleyan to replace freshman starter Patrick Barton with freshman right-hander Riley Koonce. After Koonce coaxed a force play at the plate, Reinecke stroked a 2-run double to level the score. With two away, McCluskey brought in a run on an infield error. After a walk by senior first baseman Vin Troisi, Murray delivered the Raiders' fourth run of the inning with a single. But in a game of missed opportunities, Koonce left the bases loaded by getting an inning-ending strike out.

After the Marlins put three unearned runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth, Rutgers-Newark loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks and a hit batter. Koonce got a ground ball to third to kill the threat.

Virginia Wesleyan picked up two more runs in the sixth with an error plating the second one.

In the sixth, the Raiders opened the inning with a single by Troisi, a walk to Murray and an RBI single by Napolitano. But sophomore reliever Sean Greiser came one to strike out three in a row and strand two more Raiders.

Rutgers-Newark visits Christopher Newport at noon tomorrow for another non-conference doubleheader.