NJAC Tournament Central | R-N Schedule

UNION, N.J. | The sixth-seeded Rutgers University-Newark baseball team defeated second-seeded Kean University this afternoon, 8-5, as the Scarlet Raiders (17-18) survive for another game while the Cougars (29-14) are knocked out of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.

Rutgers-Newark will now face another dangerous opponent that swept them in the regular season as the Raiders take on fourth-seeded and nationally ranked TCNJ later tonight for a chance to join the Lions and the winner of the Rowan University and Ramapo College matchup in the final day of the NJAC Tournament.

The Scarlet Raiders featured a bevy of key offensive contributors. Dominic Magliaro had the squad's lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run and a walk. Ryan Zucker led the team with two RBI while John Klimowich, Matthew Rypkema, and Michael Streim all shared squad-high honors with two runs scored. Rypkema was very efficient at the plate, racking up a .750 on-base percentage as he went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks. Meanwhile, Streim and Lisandro Ulerio each had .667 OBPs as Streim was 0-for-1 with an RBI and two free passes and Ulerio went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a base on balls.

Starter Michael Matusz held Kean in check over the first four innings, allowing just one run as he took an 8-1 lead into the fifth but was chased after walking three consecutive batters to start the frame. Jamir Ramos (2-0) was fantastic in relief, inheriting a tough situation but working his way out of trouble and finishing with a line of five innings, one unearned run allowed, one walk, and two strikeouts to pick up the victory.

In a must-win affair, Rutgers-Newark got off to a strong start offensively with three runs in the top of the second. Klimowich led off with a walk before Kevin Tamsula used a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position. Then, with two outs, Rypkema came up with a clutch single through the left side that brought Klimowich home to open the scoring.

Still, the visitors weren't done. Streim and Ulerio were patient at the dish and worked back-to-back walks that set up newly minted First Team All-NJAC honoree Zucker with the bases loaded. Zucker delivered, turning on the first pitch and driving it into left-center for a two-RBI base knock that made it 3-0.

The Scarlet Raiders tacked on another run apiece in the third and fourth. Luke Magliaro began the third by ripping a 1-0 offering into the right-center field gap, racing around the bases to secure a triple. Two batters later, Tamsula brought him home when he lifted a pitch to right field for a sacrifice fly.

In the fourth, Streim earned a base on balls after a patient at bat to lead off the frame. Ulerio moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt while Connor Clare recorded an infield single to make it runners on the corners with two outs. After Clare stole second, L Magliaro grounded a ball to third with heads up base running by Clare forcing the infielder into a tag situation at third, but allowing Streim to cross the plate prior to the final out of the inning that made it 5-0 in favor of R-N.

The Raiders utilized small ball to perfection in the fifth to take a commanding lead. After Kean got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, Klimowich greeted a new Cougar pitcher with a single up the middle. Tamsula then executed a sacrifice bunt to get Klimowich to second before D Magliaro walked. During Rypkema's at bat, Klimowich and D Magliaro delivered a rare double steal to make it runners on second and third while a wild pitch brought Klimowich home and moved D Magliaro to third. Rypkema eventually walked, forcing Kean to bring in a second reliever with runners on the corners.

Rypkema promptly swiped second before Streim executed a squeeze bunt to perfection. D Magliaro raced across the plate and Rypkema advanced to third. Finally, Ulerio came up with an infield single deep in the hole to short, allowing Rypkema to score and make it 8-1.

The Cougars did not go away, however, as they earned three consecutive walks in the bottom of the fifth to force out starter Mike Matusz before scoring three times to cut the deficit back down to four. The hosts then took advantage of a pair of miscues and a timely single to make it an 8-5 contest in the seventh as the second-seed looked to stave off elimination.

In the end, it was a phenomenal relief appearance by Ramos that carried the Scarlet Raiders to the finish line as he did not concede a run after the seventh and sat Kean down in order in the ninth to seal the 8-5 win and keep Rutgers-Newark alive in the NJAC playoffs.