NEWARK, N.J. (April 2, 2015) – New Jersey City University defeated the Rutgers-Newark baseball team by a score of 11-9 Thursday afternoon at Riverfront Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Scarlet Raiders fall to 7-11 overall and 0-3 in the conference. NJCU moves to 6-7 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC.
 
R-N took a 6-1 lead after five innings, plating three runs in the first, two in the fourth and one more in the fifth. Sophomore first baseman Chas Bohannon came through with a two-run single to left in the first, and sophomore outfielder Josh Cote blasted his fourth homer of the year – a two-run shot – in the fifth. Cote's home run was his second in the last three games, and he also added an RBI single in the seventh inning.
 
NJCU scored three runs in the sixth inning – two of which were unearned – and one more in the seventh to cut the lead to one at 6-5, but Cote's single in the bottom half of the seventh gave the hosts a bit of breathing room.
 
That two-run lead would prove to be too little as the Gothic Knights pushed across four runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth. NJCU received RBI singles from catcher Andrew Niech, right fielder Eric Giordano and designated hitter Joe Coutinho in the eighth, with a Michael Martucci run-scoring-single in the ninth inning proving to the difference.
 
Rutgers-Newark fought back in the bottom half of the ninth after the first two batters were retired. Pinch hitter Dominick Fazio was hit by a pitch, Cote singled and two-straight errors put the winning run at the plate, but NJCU reliever Delio Coutinho came on to get the final out to earn the save.
 
Freshman reliever JR Hilcher took the loss for the Scarlet Raiders, while freshman Anthony Keri earned the win in relief for NJCU (2-2). Coutinho was credited with his first save of the year as well.
 
Leading the Rutgers-Newark offense was Cote who finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. MacFarlane – who played shortstop and pitched in relief – went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. The Scarlet Raiders finished with eight hits and eight walks but left 12 runners on base.

Not figuring into the decision for R-N was starter Jonathan Dominguez. The senior righty went six innings and allowed four runs (two earned), striking out six and walking three in a solid performance. 
 
NJCU finished with 16 hits and six walks, and the Gothic Knights were led by Niech who went 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI.
 
Rutgers-Newark and NJCU will battle again Friday afternoon in Jersey City. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. and fans can visit www.RutgersNewarkAthletics.com for links to follow the action live.