NEWARK, N.J. (March 26, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team was topped by visiting Lehman College, 8-7, Monday in the Scarlet Raiders' 2018 home opener at Riverfront Stadium.
 
Rutgers-Newark drops to 5-9 and will return to the diamond Tuesday against Keystone College. First pitch from Riverfront Stadium is slated for 3:30 p.m. Lehman improves to 7-8 on the season with the win.
 
The Lightning scored three runs in the eighth inning to take a 7-5 lead, holding off the Scarlet Raiders late for the win. The three tallies in the eighth came via five hits.
 
After a one-two-three first from Scarlet Raider freshman starter Michael Matusz, the Raiders pushed across three runs in the bottom of the frame, getting two on a two-out two-run homer from junior Luke Magliaro and another on a two-out single off the bat of senior Adam Tricarico. The long ball was the first of Magliaro's Scarlet Raider career.
 
Lehman trimmed the lead to one with two runs on three hits in the third, and the Lightning tied the score in their half of the fourth.
 
Newark picked up a leadoff double from designated hitter Connor Clare in the bottom half of the fourth, and he would eventually score on a productive groundout off the bat of junior Ryan Zucker.
 
In the fifth Lehman came back with one tie (4-4), and during its next turn up, Newark regained the lead at 5-4. Junior Dominic Magliaro walked to lead off the inning and he scored on a hard-hit single from brother Luke Magliaro.
 
After Lehman went in front in the eighth, Rutgers-Newark pulled within one run in its half of the frame. Center fielder Joe Biggiani laid down a perfect bunt single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and third baseman Brian Boulineau brought him in with a well-struck two-out single.
 
The Lightning tacked on a key insurance run in the top of the ninth, and despite right fielder John Klimowich scoring on a wild pitch after walking to lead off the inning, Lehman was able to hold on for the win.
 
Rutgers-Newark totaled eight hits in the game. Luke Magliaro went 2-for-5 with a run and three RBI, and Marks was 2-for-4.  Boulineau had a hit, a walk and an RBI, and Tricarico went 1-for-1 with a run scored and an RBI before exiting with an injury. Clare and Biggiani had the other Scarlet Raider hits, and Zucker added a run scored, an RBI and a walk.
 
Jose Abrincole earned the win on the mound for Lehman, allowing two runs on two hits over the final three innings. The Lightning offense posted 14 hits, getting multiple knocks from four different players.