Newark, NJ | The Scarlet Raiders led No. 7 Rowan University in both games of this afternoon's New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader but was unable to hold onto those leads as Rowan swept the afternoon, 11-2, 10-1.
Game 1: Rowan 11, Rutgers-Newark 2
Rowan (16-5, 4-1 NJAC) had a record-setting performance on the mound in game one by Danny Serreino (1-2) as he tallied 16 strikeouts in the win. Serreino tossed 125 pitches and gave up just three hits and two runs. Michael Manganella led the Profs with three RBI and a run while going 4-for-5 from the plate.
Luis Rojas was handed the ball for Rutgers-Newark (6-11, 0-4 NJAC) and hurled 114 pitches in 4.1 innings of action and allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out four.
Chris Suleski tallied the only pair of RBI in the game with a two-run homer to finish the afternoon 1-for-1 with a run.
Kevin Tamsula went 1-for-3 and scored a run in the loss.
Rowan University got on the board first in the top of the second inning, using a sacrifice fly to score their run. The Scarlet Raiders brought Suleski to the plate after Tamsula singled to center field which allowed Suleski to belt the ball over the left-center field wall to give Rutgers-Newark the lead.
The Profs quickly answered with a trio of runs in the top of the third. Rowan used three hits to score three runs and they left the bases loaded after Matt Woods grounded out. Rowan would lock down on defense and tally another run in the fourth while putting the Scarlet Raiders down in order until the seventh inning.
Rowan added six runs in the top of the 9th to put the game out of reach for the Scarlet Raiders who collected just three hits in the opening game.
Game 2: Rowan 10, Rutgers-Newark 1
Anthony Rosoline (2-2) pitched well for the Scarlet Raiders in game two, tossing 80 pitches in 6.2 innings while striking out three and allowing just two runs on eight hits.
Anthony Ricardo was the lone Scarlet Raider to cross the dish in game two. Ricardo went 1-for-3 while both
Ryan Zucker and
Dominic Magliaro followed suit, going 1-for-3 as well.
Andrew DiPiazza (4-0) allowed just one run on five hits in seven innings pitched. DiPiazza struck out 10 and had just one walk in his start. Matt Woods paved the way with four RBI and two runs while going 3-for-4 from the plate.
Pitching was the name of the game in the early goings as both teams struggled to put the ball in play. Rutgers-Newark got their bats going in the bottom of the third hit a deep single to right field by Ricardo. Ricardo didn't have to wait long to put a tally on the board for his team as Zucker singled through the right side allowing Ricardo to fly around the bases. A throwing error by the right fielder allowed Ricardo to continue home.
The game was looking to end in favor of the Scarlet Raiders until the seventh inning when Rowan hit back-to-back home runs to take a 2-1 lead.
Michael Streim hit a two-out single to left center hoping to bring some energy to his team but he would be left stranded on the bases.
Rowan's hot bats continued in the top of the eighth where they scored eight more runs to add another win to their record.
The Scarlet Raiders will look to rebound on Monday, April 8 when they travel to Camden, NJ to take on Rutgers-Camden in another NJAC matchup.
