NJAC Tournament Central | Updated Bracket

Highlights
 
UNION, N.J. (May 6, 2017) – Needing a win to continue playing in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament, the Rutgers University-Newark baseball team did just that, upsetting top-seeded and nationally-ranked No. 18 The College of New Jersey, 3-1, Saturday at Jim Hynes Stadium.
 
Sophomore starter Anthony Rosoline went 7.1 superb innings to get the win, senior captain Josh Cote had two hits and all three RBI and reliever Luis Rojas recorded his seventh save of the season to lead the fourth-seeded Scarlet Raiders.
 
Rutgers-Newark improves to 24-14-1 overall and will move on to play Ramapo College in an elimination game Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Jim Hynes Stadium. Second-seeded Ramapo defeated William Paterson University, 6-1, earlier in Saturday's action to stay alive. TCNJ drops to 28-11 overall and will play Kean University Sunday in the double-elimination tournament.
 
The Scarlet Raider offense scored one in the bottom half of the first inning and never let go of the lead. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Zucker singled to lead off, moved to second on a productive out from junior catcher Justin Marks, and came around to score on a booming triple to right-center from Cote.
 
Rosoline dazzled over his first four innings, working around a single and an error in the first and one-out doubles in both the second and fourth.
 
Newark would pad its advantage in the fifth. Freshman second baseman JC Ball led off with a single, Zucker followed with a bunt base hit and a throwing error allowed both runners to move up a base. After an out, it was Cote who came up big again, delivering a two-run single on an offering from Lion starter Joe Cirillo to give his team a 3-0 edge.
 
Rosoline continued his stellar work in the sixth, sending down TCNJ 1-2-3, and in the seventh he did the same, needing just eight pitches to retire the side.
 
The Lions found their way on the scoreboard in the eighth, scoring once, but veteran hurler Chas Bohannon – who came on with one out in the inning – was able strand two to keep the Scarlet Raiders on top, 3-1.
 
TCNJ put the tying runs in scoring position with one out in the ninth inning, but flame throwing closer Luis Rojas was able to slam the door to lock up the playoff win and his seventh save in 14 appearances this year.
 
Rosoline went 7.1 sterling innings in the first postseason start of his career, giving up a run on four hits with one strikeout. The sophomore improves to 4-3 on the season, and the Scarlet Raiders won for the sixth time in his 10 starts this season.
 
"Anthony came up big for us today," said Head Coach Mark Rizzi after the game. "He kept them off balance, did not walk a batter, and he proved he is one of the best competitors on the mound in the NJAC."
 
Cote went 2-for-4 (3B, 1B) with three RBI to lead the offense, and Zucker was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Adam Tricarico, junior Ross Halkias and freshman Colin Powers all had one hit and one walk, Ball had a hit and a run scored and Marks doubled.
 
"Josh had a great day at the plate," added Rizzi. "His triple in the first inning set the tone for the game, and his two-run single up the middle in the fifth was with two strikes. He battled that at-bat to get a pitch he was able to handle."
 
Fans should visit www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com Sunday for links to live coverage of R-N vs Ramapo. Tickets to Jim Hynes Stadium are $5 for adults and $2 for students, children and seniors.
 
Notes:
-The win is the first in the NJAC Tournament since May 3, 2011 for Rutgers-Newark.
-Cote's three RBI gives him nine multiple RBI games this season – second on the team.
-TCNJ outscored Rutgers-Newark in the regular season 21-6.
-Zucker recorded his team-high 18th game with two hits or more.

#RUNwins for @RURaiderbasebal as guys top No. 18 TCNJ 3-1 to stay alive in @NJACSports playoffs! Rosoline tosses gem, Cote drives in 3 runs. pic.twitter.com/iyUxRSqUVV

— Scarlet Raiders (@ScarletRaiders) May 6, 2017