Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers University-Newark scrambled back from an early 4-1 deficit as four relief pitchers blanked DeSales University over the final five innings in a 9-4 victory in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
 
Sophomore Billy Taylor, senior Ryan Staub, sophomore Ryan MacFarlane and senior Jimmy Napolitano combined to shut out the Bulldogs (7-9) on just three singles while striking out four and walking no one.  Staub (1-1) picked up the win by shutting down DeSales in the sixth inning before MacFarlane came out of centerfield to post two innings on the mound.  Napolitano, the Raiders' closer, came in from right field to send the Bulldogs down in order in the ninth.
 
Sophomore leftfielder Cameron Dias went three for four with an RBI single in the first inning, a bases-loaded walk in the 3-run fifth inning and an RBI double to ignite a 4-run eighth inning for Rutgers-Newark (6-12).
 
Freshman catcher Josh Cote had an RBI single to left field to cap the fifth inning outburst and stroked a 2-run single to right field in the middle of the eighth inning rally as the Raiders posted 11 hits against six DeSales pitchers.
 
MacFarlane manufactured the winning run in the sixth.  After walking to opening the inning, he stole second, moved to third on a ground ball by senior first baseman Vin Troisi and came home on a wild pitch against sophomore reliever Chris Zampini (0-1).   MacFarlane doubled to lead off the first inning and scored on Dias's single to slice the DeSales lead to 2-1.
 
Junior outfielder Jason McCluskey came off the bench to single twice, including an RBI base hit to center to cap the decisive eighth inning spurt.
 
After allowing just one run on three hits through the first four innings, Bulldog junior righthander Trevor Connors walked four batters in a row after getting the first out in the fifth inning.   Cote greeted junior left-handed reliever Eric Elmer with an RBI single to left to knot the score at 4-4.
 
Freshman lefthander Rafael Totesautt lasted four full innings, yielding four runs on two hits and five walks while striking out two before Taylor came on for a 1-2-3 performance in the fifth.
 
Rutgers-Newark opens New Jersey Athletic Conference play at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at The College of New Jersey to open a six games in four days stretch in the league.  The Raiders host the Lions on Friday in Riverfront Stadium before hosting New Jersey City in a doubleheader on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.  Rutgers-Newark goes to Yogi Berra Stadium on Sunday to play Montclair State in a twin bill which twice was postponed because of rain.