LACEUP in Support of Pediatric Cancer

FLEMINGTON, N.J. (March 25, 2016) - Centenary College defeated Rutgers University-Newark by a score of 8-4 in the first of a three-game series Friday at Diamond Nation in Flemington, N.J.

The same two teams will play a doubleheader in Newark on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Riverfront Stadium.

Rutgers-Newark falls to 6-9 on the season, while the Cyclones improve to 8-6.

The Scarlet Raider offense was led by sophomore third baseman Brian Boulineau who went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and run scored as the Scarlet Raiders tallied nine hits from eight different players in the game.

Sophomore Greg Sampson, making his first collegiate start, suffered the loss for the Scarlet Raiders, working into the third inning and allowing five runs on eight hits. Sophomore Anthony Perconte gave up two runs on three hits in 3.2 innings of relief, and sophomore Dan Murphy went the final 2.1 innings on the hill, giving up one run and one hit and striking out three.

Sophomore James Graziani earned the win on the mound for the Cyclones, allowing four runs (three earned) in 4.2 innings of work.

Newark jumped on top with two runs in the top half of the first inning. Senior right fielder Billy Taylor led off with a walk and moved to third on a ground-rule double to right field from senior shortstop Gerry Patrizio. Senior center fielder Ryan MacFarlane was next, delivering a sacrifice fly to drive in Taylor, and senior first baseman Cameron Dias did the same to plate Patrizio.

The Cyclones came back to tie in their half of the first and went ahead for good in the third inning on a grand slam from junior catcher Sal Smith.

A Boulineau single, a walk from sophomore left fielder Danny Iannaccone and a single from freshman second baseman Ryan Zucker loaded the bases for Taylor who pushed across Boulineau with a walk, bringing the Scarlet Raiders within three in the fourth.

Another run in the fifth made it a two-score game (6-4) as a bunt single from MacFarlane started the inning, and he crossed the dish thanks to a two-out double down the left-field line from Boulineau.

The Centenary pitching and defense allowed just three hits the rest of the contest, and the Cyclones tacked on single markers in the sixth and seventh innings for the final margin.

Taylor was on base three times for Newark, going 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI. Patrizio was 1-for-4 with a run scored, and freshman Casey Hanley tallied a hit in his only time at the plate. MacFarlane finished 1-for-1 with an RBI and a run.

Live stats will be available for Saturday's doubleheader at www.sidearmstats.com/rutgers/baseball and fans can always follow @ScarletRaiders on twitter for the latest on Scarlet Raider baseball.