Box Score

FLEMINGTON, NJ – Rutgers University-Newark knocked the snow off of its cleats with an 11-3 win over John Jay at Diamond Nation to end a Mother Nature compelled 16-day break.

The Scarlet Raiders (1-4) piled up a 10-0 lead through six innings by notching 14 hits while Rutgers-Newark senior starter Michael Garcia and sophomore reliever Chris Nichols handcuffed the Bloodhounds (0-3) on just four singles through the top of the seventh.

Junior designated hitter Michael Murray, senior rightfielder Jimmy Napolitano and sophomore second baseman Gerry Patrizio slammed lead-off home runs in the second, third and fourth innings as the Raiders chased John Jay starter Charles Mendes (0-1) in the fourth.

Murray went three for four with an RBI single to cap a 4-run outburst in the fourth and a 2-run double to centerfielder in the sixth to end a 3-run rally.  With his solo home run to start the scoring in the second, he finished with four RBIs.

Senior shortstop Kevin Olah delivered RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth while Napolitano lifted a sacrifice fly to left field in the fourth, walked twice and scored three times before closing out the game on the mound.  He struck out the side in the ninth.

Patrizio had an RBI double in the second inning to go along with his line-drive home run over the left field fence in the fourth. Senior first baseman Vin Troisi went two for three, walked and scored twice.

Garcia (1-0) ran his scoreless streak to start the season to 10 full innings by striking out five while allowing no hits and just one walk during the first three innings of a pre-planned short start.  Garcia started the year by blanking Virginia Wesleyan on three hits for seven full innings on February 22, but he did not figure in the decision.

Nichols came on to give up a single in each of his four innings while striking out three and walking no one.

The Bloodhounds broke through in the eighth against senior reliever Jonathan Dominguez who struck the first two and final batters in the frame.  After senior designated hitter Corry Harper drew a 2-out walk and stole second base, junior catcher Nestor Amarante blooped a single down the right field line to break up the shutout bid.  Senior first baseman followed with a home run to left field before Dominguez struck out senior third baseman Ronald Barillas swinging.

Rutgers-Newark flies to California on Friday begin its annual spring break week.  The Raiders take on Wesleyan University in a doubleheader in Pomona on Saturday to kick off the nine games in nine days slate.