UNION, N.J. | The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team dropped a pair of New Jersey Athletic Conference games this afternoon at Kean University, 10-1 and 5-4. The Scarlet Raiders are now 9-14 (3-7 NJAC) while the Cougars improve to 20-11 (7-3 NJAC).

Rutgers-Newark continues its league slate on Thursday when the squad heads to William Paterson University for a 3:30 p.m. matchup.

Game 1: Kean 10, Rutgers-Newark 1
The visitors had a tough start to this conference doubleheader as Kean jumped all over starter Casey Hanley early and didn't let up. The Cougars built a 3-0 lead heading into the fifth before breaking the contest open with a five-run frame that knocked Hanley out of the game.

Rutgers-Newark finally got on the board in the eighth. Ryan Zucker started things off with a single through the right side on an 0-2 count before Caleb Ware came in to pinch run. An error allowed Dominic Magliaro to reach and placed two runners on before a fielder's choice made it runners on the corners. Ware crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Anthony Ricardo to give the Raiders their first run of the day.

Zucker had a strong 3-for-3 game at the top of the order to lead R-N offensively. Hanley (3-2) took the loss after 4.1 innings, conceding eight runs, walking three, and striking out two. Nicholas Casaleggio gave up two runs in 2.2 innings while Jamir Ramos closed out the contest with a perfect frame and two strikeouts.

Game 2: Kean 5, Rutgers-Newark 4
The afternoon cap was a much tighter affair as Kean held the only leads but Rutgers-Newark consistently battled back.

The Cougars picked up a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second. Still, the Scarlet Raiders halved that deficit in the fourth and tied it in the fifth.

Connor Clare got the rally started in the fourth with a leadoff single, advancing to second on a throwing error. A groundout subsequently moved him over to third. Kevin Tamsula was up next, and he delivered an RBI base knock down the left field line to make it 2-1.

In the fifth, Lisandro Ulerio reached on a fielding error in the infield before Zucker sacrificed him into scoring position. Ulerio would take advantage of a wild pitch, advancing to third before scampering home to even the game at 2-2.

Unfortunately, the hosts would retake the lead in the bottom of the frame and add two more in the sixth to gain a 5-2 advantage.

R-N cut into that lead in the eighth. Luke Magliaro reached on a hit by pitch before Clare singled him into scoring position. Tamsula came up big again, delivering an RBI single to left-center that brought home L Maglairo.

In the ninth, the Raiders made it even more interesting. Anthony Rosoline led off with a pinch-hit single before Ware replaced him on the bases. One batter later, Ware swiped second and Zucker promptly singled him home to make it 5-4. With two down, L Magliaro walked to set up Clare with two runners on but it was not to be as Kean's closer Justin Hernandez slammed the door shut.

Tamsula was the top offensive performer with a 3-for-4 contest and two RBI. Clare added two hits and a run. Luis Rojas (0-5) suffered the loss after 5.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), walking five, and striking out one. David Vasquez and Tyler Searles combined for 2.1 scoreless frames of relief.