Box Score

NEW YORK – Rutgers University-Newark erupted for four runs in the top of the ninth to down Baruch College at the MCU Park on Coney Island.

After the Scarlet Raiders (5-11) saw a 4-1 lead evaporate in the seventh inning, they notched four runs on five hits and a costly error to take their second straight win.

Sophomore Chris Nichols (1-2)  picked up his first career win and senior rightfielder/closer Jimmy Napolitano nailed down the victory with back-to-back innings of scoreless relief in the eighth and ninth.

In a wild ninth inning, junior centerfielder Jason McCluskey beat out an infield single before senior first baseman Vin Troisi dropped down a bunt single that sent McCluskey all the way to third when the Bearcats failed to cover the base.  After an intentional walk to Napolitano loaded the bases with no one out, junior designated hitter Rowland Goodman hit a ground ball to third base.  The throw home hit McCluskey who slid in with the winning run.  Sophomore shortstop Ryan MacFarlane followed with a 2-run single before sophomore leftfielder Cameron Dias and sophomore second baseman Gerry Patrizio singled to plate the final run.

Rutgers-Newark went up 3-1 in the fourth inning when junior designated hitter Michael Murray, MacFarlane, Dias and freshman catcher Josh Cote followed an inning-opening walk by Napolitano with consecutive singles.  Patrizio lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to cap the outburst.

In the sixth, Patrizio reached on an error, stole second base and scored on a 2-out single by McCluskey to up the Raider lead to 4-1.

Baruch (6-9) pulled even in the seventh when Raider rookie starter Rafael Totesautt gave up two of his six hits plus a walk before Raider head coach Mark Rizzi went to sophomore lefty Billy Taylor.  The Bearcats scored the final two runs of the 3-run rally on passed balls before Taylor got a strikeout to end the threat.

After the Raider stranded the potential go-ahead run on third in the top of the eighth, Nichols came on for a 1-2-3 inning.  Napolitano struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth before giving up a single.  He coaxed a pop up to third base to end the game.

MacFarlane paced the Raiders' 15-hit attack with three singles while McCluskey, Napolitano, Dias and Cote came up with two hits apiece.

Sophomore second baseman Matthew Ballone was the only Bearcat with two hits as the four Rutgers-Newark pitchers combined to allow just eight hits while striking out six and walking four.

Rutgers-Newark opens its New Jersey Athletic Conference slate with a doubleheader at Montclair State on Saturday in Yogi Berra Stadium.  The first pitch is set for 11:30 a.m.