LOS ANGELES – Junior right fielder Cameron Dias (Madison, NJ/Madison) had two hits, including his second homer in as many games, and sophomore catcher Josh Cote (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) keyed a four-run third inning with a two-run homer, leading Rutgers-Newark to a 6-5 victory over Occidental College at Anderson Field Saturday afternoon.

The victory enabled the Scarlet Raiders (1-3) to gain a split of Saturday's doubleheader and enabled R-N to gain its first win of the 2015 college baseball season.

After falling behind, 2-0, in the first inning, the Scarlet Raiders scored once in the second on an RBI single from junior shortstop/pitcher Ryan MacFarlane (Freehold, NJ/Freehold), then exploded for four runs in the visiting third, keyed by the long balls from Dias, a solo shot, and Cote, a two-run blast, to take a 5-2 lead. Senior first baseman Rowland Goodman (West Caldwell, NJ/James J. Caldwell HS) also delivered an RBI double in the rally.

Junior right-hander Chris Nichols (North Plainfield, NJ/North Plainfield) was the Scarlet Raiders' starter and winner. Nichols went six innings, scattering five hits, allowing three runs (all earned), with two walks and two strikeouts. Nichols won two games last year as a sophomore.

Sophomore right-hander Chas Bohannon (Springfield, NJ/Jonathan Dayton) pitched one inning in relief, alloweing one earned run on one hit, then MacFarlane finished up, pitching the final two frames, allowing two hits and one earned run, striking out one and walking one to earn the save.

Besides Dias and Cote, the Scarlet Raiders got two hits and an RBI from junior second baseman Gerry Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery).

For Occidental, Jonathan Wong had two RBI and Devon DeRaad had two hits and an RBI. Starting pitcher Riley James went seven innings, surrendering seven hits, suffering the setback for Occidental (13-7).

The Scarlet Raiders continue their nine-game California road trip Sunday, when they take on the University of the Redlands once again. The two teams played Friday, with Redlands winning, 12-6.