Highlights

NEWARK, N.J. (April 7, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team earned a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) split with Rutgers University-Camden today at Riverfront Stadium, handing the visitors their first league loss, behind a big start in the second game from freshman Michael Matusz and an offensive explosion from senior Anthony Perconte.
 
The Scarlet Raiders move to 7-15 (1-5 NJAC) while the Scarlet Raptors are now 13-6 (5-1 NJAC).
 
R-N will look to stay in the wins column when it hosts Drew for a non-conference matchup on Monday at 3:30 p.m. in Riverfront Stadium.
 
Rutgers-Camden 10, Rutgers-Newark 6
The Scarlet Raptors scored two runs during each of its first two times at the plate, opening a 4-0 lead after an inning and a half.  Only one of the runs was earned as the Raptors used two errors, three hits and four walks to their advantage.
 
Rutgers-Newark put multiple runners on in the second and third, but R-C starter Steven Bloyed and the Camden defense were able to work through both threats unscathed.
 
Camden tacked on single markers in the third and fourth (6-0), before the Scarlet Raiders broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Ryan Zucker and sophomore Kevin Tamsula singled to start the inning, and freshman Chris Suleski singled home Zucker for the first Newark run. Sophomore John Klimowich drove in Tamsula with a groundout while an error after a single from Perconte allowed R-N's third tally to cross.
 
The lead moved back to four after the top of the sixth, but the Scarlet Raiders pulled within one in the bottom of the frame. A throwing error on a sac bunt  by sophomore JC Ball allowed the first run of the inning to cross and an infield single from Perconte made it a 7-5 game. The final run of the inning came on a bases loaded walk to junior Luke Magliaro, making it a one-run-game (7-6) heading into the seventh.
 
Camden pushed across two insurance runs on a double from Matt Yanick in the eighth, and reliever Vincent Sturtevant was able to keep the Raider offense at bay to earn the save.
 
Junior Luis Rojas suffered the loss for the Scarlet Raiders, giving up five runs (two earned) in three innings. He struck out two, walked five, and scattered five hits. Camden starter Steven Boyed picked up the win for Camden, going five innings and allowing three runs (two earned).
 
Perconte had an excellent opener at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Suleski had two hits for the second-straight game, adding a run and an RBI. 
 
Rutgers-Newark 9, Rutgers-Camden 4
The Scarlet Raiders took the lead in the afternoon-cap, scoring a run in the second inning. Senior Adam Tricarico singled to lead off, stole second, and scored on a two-out single from junior Dominic Magliaro.
 
Newark's starter Matusz rolled through his first four innings and was able to work around a two-on, two-out jam in the fifth to keep his team up 1-0.

Tamsula led off the Rutgers-Newark fifth with a walk and Klimowich followed with a bunt base hit. Zucker then sacrificed the two runners into scoring position with a perfect bunt, setting the table for a two-run single from Perconte to put the hosts up 3-0. Later in the inning, Tricarico came through with a knock to bring in Perconte, sending the Scarlet Raiders into the sixth with a 4-0 lead.
 
Zucker put Rutgers-Newark up 5-0 with a two-out hit in the sixth, bringing in Dominic Magliaro, before Camden was able to get on the board with three tallies in the seventh.
 
The Raiders put the game out of reach in the eighth, getting a two-out three-run homer off the bat of senior Brian Boulineau, giving Rutgers-Newark a 9-3 lead.
 
Matusz was superb in the first league start of career, going 6.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and a career-high eight strikeouts. He earned his first career win, improving to 1-1 on the season. Sophomore Jason Palmeri tossed the final 2.2 innings to earn his first save of the season, getting big outs in the seventh and eighth for Rutgers-Newark.
 
Four different Raiders recorded multiple hits including hitters at the two, three, and four spots in the lineup. Perconte had another terrific game at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, finishing his afternoon with seven hits, four RBI, and three runs. Boulineau was 2-for-4 with his three-run jack highlighting a three RBI, one run scored, and one walk performance. Tricarico and Dominic Magliaro each recorded a pair of hits, a run, and an RBI.