NEWARK, N.J. (April 5, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team was topped by New Jersey Athletic Conference rival New Jersey City University Friday at Riverfront Stadium by a score of 7-5.
 
Rutgers-Newark falls to 0-4 in the NJAC and 6-14 overall and will look for its first league wins of the season Saturday when the Scarlet Raiders host Rutgers University-Camden in a conference doubleheader. NJCU improves to 12-5 overall and 3-1 in the NJAC with the win.
 
Rutgers-Newark scored first with a two-spot in the second frame. Junior Ryan Zucker singled to lead off and sophomore Kevin Tamsula followed with a base knock of his own. Freshman backstop Chris Suleski delivered an opposite field base knock to bring in Zucker and a fielder's choice from sophomore John Klimowich plated Tamsula.
 
NJCU answered with two runs on four hits in the third, and the guests took the lead with a single score in the top half of the fourth inning.
 
After the Gothic Knights pushed their lead to two (4-2), Newark responded with one run in the fifth to get back within one. A two-out double from Tamsula put runners on second and third, and a passed ball allowed the Rutgers-Newark run to cross the plate in the form of Zucker who reached on a bizarre fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
 
In the sixth, Newark pulled even with a single from sophomore JC Ball, a sac bunt from sophomore John Klimowich, a walk and two hit batters - the second being senior Adam Tricarico who was hit for an unprecedented third-straight time.
 
The Gothic Knights took the lead (6-4) for good in the seventh on a two-run homer off the bat of shortstop Nick LoGatto. The lead would move to three (7-4) in the eighth, but the Scarlet Raiders trimmed their deficit back to two when junior Luke Magliaro singled home senior Anthony Perconte who had walked to lead off.
 
Unfortunately, two is as close as the Raiders would get as Mike Ramirez came on to retire Newark in order in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Senior Mike Zibrin got the start for the Scarlet Raiders, going the first 6.1 innings. He was charged with five runs on six hits, striking out four in the loss (1-4). Junior Casey Hanley gave up one earned run in 1.1 innings of work, while Junior Yanni Vayas fired the final 1.1 innings for the Raiders.
 
Tamsula went 2-for-5 with a run scored and Suleski went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Rutgers-Newark offense. Perconte drew three walks and scored a run, and Zucker had a hit, two runs and a walk. Klimowich had an RBI, a walk and two sac bunts as the Scarlet Raiders totaled eight hits and five walks in the game.
 
Anthony Carfora earned the win for NJCU to improve to 3-0. Carfora came on in the second inning and gave up one earned run over 4.1 frames. LoGatto led the Gothic Knight offense, going 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored.
 
First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader between the Scarlet Raiders and Scarlet Raptors is slated for 11:30 a.m. at Riverfront Stadium. Fans unable to make the game can follow live at www.sidearmstats.com/rutgers/baseball.