MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (March 14, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team picked up a thrilling 9-7 come-from-behind win over Hood College Tuesday morning at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
 
The Scarlet Raiders trailed 5-1 in the seventh and 7-5 in the eighth, but came back twice to earn the victory. Freshman Colin Powers tallied the game-winning hit for the Scarlet Raiders with a one-out single in the eighth inning that broke an 7-7 stalemate.
 
Rutgers-Newark improves to 5-3 overall, while Hood drops to 3-5. The Scarlet Raiders are off Wednesday and will take on Wells College Thursday, March 16, in Myrtle Beach. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.
 
After falling behind 5-1 when the Blazers pushed across a pair in the top of the seventh, Rutgers-Newark stormed back with four in the bottom half of the inning to tie things 5-5. Sophomore Ryan Zucker started the inning with a base hit and promptly stole second ahead of a walk to senior Josh Cote. After an out, junior Anthony Perconte reached on an error to load the bases, and a single for Powers plated one. A run-scoring groundout from freshman Connor Clare made the score 5-3, and the equalizer came in the form of a big two-run single from freshman Kevin Tamsula.
 
Hood was able to shake off the Scarlet Raider rally, scoring twice in the top half of the eighth to pull ahead 7-5, but Rutgers-Newark came right back. A bunt single from freshman JC Ball to start the inning set the table, and after a Zucker single, Cote came through with an RBI base knock. After an out, Perconte was intentionally walked and Zucker scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, and that sequence set the stage for Powers who gave the Scarlet Raiders their first lead of the game at 9-7 with a huge two-run single.
 
Junior Luis Rojas earned the win in relief for Rutgers-Newark, tossing a dominating 1.2 innings. He did not allow a hit and struck out three.
 
The Blazers pulled in front with two runs on one hit and two errors in the top half of the first inning, and despite a walk to Cote and a single from junior Ross Halkias, the score remained the same.
 
Rutgers-Newark sliced the Hood lead in half with a single tally in the fourth. Perconte reached on an error and stole second, scoring on a two-bagger from Powers.
 
Hood scored once in the fifth inning on two hits, and the Blazers then scored two runs on three hits to go up 5-1 in the seventh.
 
Rutgers-Newark starter Dominick Fazio – who left trailing 3-1 – went 4.1 solid innings for the Scarlet Raiders, allowing just one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts.
 
Powers finished the game 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI, and Zucker went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Cote went 1-for-2 with two runs, three walks and an RBI, and the Scarlet Raiders totaled 11 hits and six walks in the game.
 
Hood totaled 13 hits and worked six free passes, and each team left 11 runners on base in the contest.