Auburndale, FL I The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team launched a furious late rally but came up just short against Clarkson University last night, 7-6. The Scarlet Raiders move to 2-4 on the season while the Golden Knights improve to 3-4.

Rutgers-Newark was led offensively by its top of the order. Luke Magliaro went 2-for-2 with two walks, a run scored, and an RBI while Ryan Zucker was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run. Kevin Tamsula added two RBI and a run, meanwhile Gerardo A. Reyes had a notable evening as he was 0-for-0 with four walks for a perfect 1.000 on-base percentage.

On the mound, Tyler Searles suffered his first loss of the spring after five innings of solid work, conceding four runs (two earned) on five hits with no walks and a strikeout. Michael Matusz and Nicholas Casaleggio combined for two innings of three-run ball (two earned) before David Vasquez shut the door with two scoreless frames where he walked two and fanned a pair of opponents.

The Raiders return to action tomorrow afternoon when they face Framingham State at 3 p.m.

After three scoreless innings to open the contest, R-N found itself in a hole as the hosts headed into the bottom of the seventh trailing 7-1. The Scarlet Raiders lone run to that point came when the team patiently worked four walks.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rutgers-Newark came up with an impressive rally. Christian Diaz led off with a base on balls before Zucker promptly singled him into scoring position. Luke Magliaro was next with a big RBI double into left field to cut into the deficit. Two batters later, Kevin Tamsula ripped an extra base hit of his own, doubling home Zucker and Magliaro to make it a 7-4 game.

Following a Dominic Magliaro walk and passed ball that advanced himself and Tamsula, John Klimowich added an RBI groundout to the shortstop. Next, a wild pitch allowed Magliaro to cross the dish from third and suddenly the hosts were down by just one run.

After Vasquez held Clarkson in the eighth, the Raiders looked to complete the comeback in the bottom of the frame. Diaz walked, Zucker had an infield single, and Luke Magliaro sacrificed them over to make it runners on second and third with one out. Unfortunately, Newark could not capitalize on the opportunity.

The Scarlet Raiders threatened one last time in the ninth as Klimowich led off with a walk while Matthew Rypkema delivered a sacrifice bunt to move Klimowich into scoring position. Still, Klimowich would advance no further as the Golden Knights completed a close victory.