ENDWELL, N.Y. (March 9, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team opened its 2019 campaign today against nationally-ranked Cortland State with a doubleheader played in New York but with the Raiders as the home team. R-N dropped both games, losing the first contest 7-4 and the second 7-2 as the team stands at 0-2 while the no. 16 Red Dragons improve to 5-4-1.

The Scarlet Raiders return to action on Thursday when they head to Baruch for a 3:30 p.m. matchup.

Game 1: Cortland State 7, Rutgers-Newark 4
The Raiders got off to a good start in the opener, quickly reversing an early 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first. Senior Ryan Zucker started things off with a walk and two batters later junior Connor Clare walked as well to put two runners on. Senior transfer Gerardo A. Reyes was next and he delivered a one-bagger as well to load up the bases with one out. Classmate Luke Magliaro worked a base on balls to pick up an RBI and tie the game at 1-1, forcing out the Cortland starter after just five batters. Then it was senior Dominic Magliaro who smacked a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Clare and putting R-N in front 2-1.

Unfortunately, the Red Dragons responded in the top of the second with a pair of runs of their own to reclaim a slim 3-2 advantage.

Cortland State would tack on another three runs, all unearned, in the fourth ending senior Luis Rojas' day and building a more comfortable 6-2 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rutgers-Newark attempted to rally as Zucker again began the effort with a one-out walk. A throwing error placed runners on the corners for the Raiders and a steal by junior John Klimowich made it two runners in scoring position. With two outs, Reyes came through once again, singling in Zucker and moving Klimowich to third. Next it was Luke Magliaro delivering a big double to bring home Klimowich and slice the deficit down to 6-4. Still, the rally would come up short as the Red Dragons got Dominic Magliaro swinging to end the frame.

Cortland added one more run in the top of the eight to secure the 7-4 win.

Rutgers-Newark was led by Reyes who went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his Raiders debut. Zucker finished the game with a .600 on-base percentage on three walks and scored twice while Luke Magliaro was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.

On the mound, Rojas suffered the loss after four innings of work where he conceded six runs (two earned) on five hits, walked four and struck out four. Freshman Tyler Searles had a strong middle relief outing with four innings of one-run ball, walking four and fanning three batters. Classmate Marcus James closed out the contest with a perfect ninth.

Game 2: Cortland State 7, Rutgers-Newark 2
In the second half of the twinbill it was all Red Dragons early as the visitors scored six runs over the first four frames, forcing senior starter Anthony Rosoline out after 3.2 innings.

Trailing 7-0 in the seventh, R-N did produce a small rally. Dominic Magliaro started it off with a one-out single, advancing to second on error by the left fielder. Two batters later, junior Tommy Scanlon singled him home to get the hosts on the board. Junior Christian Diaz stepped into the box next and picked up his first career RBI when he doubled in Scanlon to make it 7-2. Unfortunately, the surge would end there as Cortland State got Zucker swinging to end the inning.

Dominic Magliaro and Scanlon each went 1-or-1 with a run and RBI while Magliaro also picked up a walk while Clare had a 2-for-4 afternoon. On the rubber, Rosoline took the loss after 3.2 innings where he allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and a walk. Senior Casey Hanley, junior Michael Katims, and rookie Nicholas Casaleggio combined for 5.1 innings of one-run relief. Hanley went 2.1 and allowed one run and one hit, walking one and striking out one. Katims hurled a pair of scoreless frames and Casaleggio kept the Red Dragons off the scoreboard in the ninth in his first collegiate appearance while also picking up his first strikeout.