Updated 2017 Schedule

UNION, N.J. (April 12, 2017) – Rutgers University-Newark and 11th-ranked Alvernia University played to an 8-8 tie Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference baseball game played at Kean University in Union, N.J.
 
Down 8-6, the Scarlet Raiders scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to tie the game, and because of outside circumstances, the two coaches decided that it was best that the game end after nine innings of play.
 
"What a great game with great intensity, and we just kept fighting every inning," said Head Coach Mark Rizzi. "That was a very talented team we played the last two and days we were right with them."
 
Rutgers-Newark moves to 15-6-1 overall and will visit William Paterson University Thursday in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game beginning at 3:30 p.m. Alvernia moves to 21-4-2.
 
Down one entering the ninth, junior Adam Tricarico walked with one out and senior captain Josh Cote followed with a clutch run-scoring double to left to tie the game, 8-8.

"Our bullpen gutted it out today and gave us a chance," added Rizzi. "Luis (Rojas) did his thing, and Brandon (Terrizzi) and Vincent (Conti) were great. The entire team is excited to get back to conference games."
 
Alvernia scored one run in the top half of the first off Scarlet Raider starting pitcher Chas Bohannon, but the veteran settled down nicely, putting up three-straight zeros to keep his team within one heading to the bottom of the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Rutgers-Newark broke through with three runs to take a 3-1 lead. A throwing error, a walk and another error allowed Rutgers-Newark to load the bases with two outs. Freshman Connor Clare came through first, driving in a pair with a single, and freshman JC Ball was next, knotting things 3-3 with a base hit to right field.
 
The Crusaders came back with three markers in the fifth to regain the lead at 4-3, but the back-and-forth battle continued with Rutgers-Newark scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-4 lead.
 
Cote singled, stole second and eventually scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, and later in the inning, junior backstop Justin Marks came through with a two-out, two-run double down the right-field line to give Rutgers the lead. The hit plated sophomore shortstop Ryan Zucker and Clare who had walked earlier in the inning.
 
The lead was short lived as Alvernia scored a pair of unearned runs in the seventh to tie, and the Crusaders took an 8-6 lead with two more runs in the eighth. The lead run crossed on a triple off the bat of Matt Briner.
 
Rutgers-Newark battled within one run after eight, using an error, walk, Ball single and wild pitch to score one, setting the stage for Cote's game-tying hit in the ninth.
 
The Scarlet Raiders finished the game with nine hits. Marks went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk, and Cote was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ball went 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Clare was 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. The Raiders totaled four stolen bases in the game as well, getting one each from Boulineau, Tricarico, Cote and Ball.
 
Bohannon went the first four innings for Rutgers-Newark, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three. Freshman Brandon Terrizzi went 2.1 in relief, allowing two unearned runs on four hits, striking out three. Sophomore Luis Rojas was charged with two runs on two hits and a walk, fanning four, and freshman Vincent Conti tossed one scoreless inning with a strikeout.
 
Alvernia finished with 12 hits in the game, getting four from shortstop Nathan Sides and three from Briner. Sides went 4-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored as a total four Crusaders combined for 11 of the 12 'Vern hits.
 
Rutgers-Newark Baseball Upcoming Schedule Changes:
The Scarlet Raiders will play at William Paterson University Thursday and Friday beginning at 3:30 p.m. The team will then travel to Rowan University Saturday for a doubleheader against the Profs in Glassboro. Friday and Saturday's games were originally slated to be played at Riverfront Stadium in Newark and will now be played on the road.