MONTCLAIR, N.J. (April 28, 2018) – Senior Adam Tricarico drove in seven runs in the opener and classmate Mike Zibrin hurled a stellar complete game in the second game as the Rutgers University-Newark baseball team swept New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Montclair State on the road today.

The Scarlet Raiders extend their winning streak to three as they improve to 12-23 (4-13 NJAC) while the Red Hawks fall to 19-19 (7-11 NJAC).

Head Coach Mark Rizzi said, "The team has played very relaxed and loose the past three games. As a result, all three phases (hitting, pitching, fielding) of the game came together. We have had outstanding pitching, our defense has been steady, and we have had great at-bats." Rizzi added, "The team is excited to make it four in a row tomorrow at Stockton."

R-N closes out its 2018 campaign on Sunday at Stockton with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Rutgers-Newark 8, Montclair State 4
In the opener, the Scarlet Raiders carried some Senior Day momentum into the first inning as they got off to a fast start.

Junior Ryan Zucker led off the frame with an infield single after patiently battling the pitcher to a full count. Two batters later, senior Brian Boulineau worked a walk, setting up Tricarico with two on and one out.

Tricarico delivered, sending a 1-2 offering over the left field wall for his team-leading fifth homer of the season to make it 3-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Red Hawks rallied back over the next two innings and had the game knotted at 3-3 heading into the third.

In the top of the third, R-N regained its advantage. Sophomore John Klimowich got things started with a base knock to right. A sacrifice bunt and ground out moved him over to third, setting the stage once again for Tricarico. In a crucial two out, runner in scoring position situation, Tricarico came through, guiding the ball up the middle for an RBI single to put the Raiders back in front 4-3.

Tricarico wasn't done yet as he would put the contest to rest in the seventh. Sophomore JC Ball had a base hit to right, senior Justin Marks rapped a ball up the middle, and Boulineau earned a base on balls to load the bases for Tricarico with two away.

After working the count to 2-2 and fouling off a pitch, Tricarico drilled the next offering he saw into the right-center field gap, clearing the bases and opening up a 7-3 advantage on a three-RBI double. Senior Anthony Perconte rounded out the scoring for the frame by bringing Tricarico home on an extra base hit of his own to deep center field.

Following six strong innings from junior Luis Rojas, sophomore Michael Katims earned the rare three-inning save. Katims entered the game with two runners on and no outs in the bottom of the seventh but escaped while conceding only one run that was charged to Rojas before blanking Montclair State over the final two frames to secure the 8-4 victory. Rojas improved to 2-4 on the season as he allowed four runs (two earned), walked five, and struck out six batters.

Tricarico was the offensive star of the game, going 4-for-5 with two runs and racking up a career-high seven RBI. Ball was 2-for-4 with a run while Boulineau and Klimowich each matched Tricarico as they crossed the plate two times apiece.

Rutgers-Newark 7, Montclair State 2
The Raiders took the afternoon-cap and the sweep as they rallied to pull away from the home team, 7-2, behind a masterful start from Zibrin and big ninth inning by the offense.

Newark struck first in the top of the sixth. Perconte hit an infield single and stole second before Boulineau moved him over to third. Following an intentional walk of Tricarico, junior Dominic Magliaro brought him home on a sacrifice fly to center.

Still, the Red Hawks got two in the bottom of the frame to grab a 2-1 lead.

R-N rallied back in the eighth as Ball started things off with a base hit. Klimowich was next and he drove a single into left while both runners moved over on an error to set up Perconte with two runners in scoring position. He delivered with an RBI groundout to even the score at 2-2.

In the ninth, the Scarlet Raiders broke the contest wide open. Senior Ross Halkias led off the frame innocently enough by working a walk. Classmate Joe Biggiani came on to pinch-run and promptly swiped second base, advancing to third on an errant throw from the catcher. Three batters later, Biggiani crossed home plate on a Klimowich sac fly that broke the deadlock and had R-N in front, 3-2.

However, the visitors were not done yet. Boulineau got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run before Tricarico rapped a base knock up the middle, bringing home Perconte and Ball to make it a four-run advantage. Boulineau completed the scoring when he scampered home on a passed ball for the final 7-2 tally.

Zibrin (2-6) was fantastic in the penultimate start of his career. He hurled the complete nine innings, allowing just two unearned runs while scattering eight hits, walking two, and striking out five batters.  

Klimowich had the top offensive performance, going 3-for-4 at the dish with an RBI. Freshman Chris Suleski also had a multi-hit afternoon, collecting a single and a double. Tricarico finished with a team-high two RBI while reaching base three times on a hit and two walks. Perconte earned a .667 on-base percentage as he went 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI, and two runs scored.