HOBOKEN, NJ | The Scarlet Raiders baseball program got an early start to their 2020 campaign this afternoon when they took on Stevens Institute in a doubleheader. Rutgers University-Newark opened their season with a split as they won game one before Stevens rebounded and took the win in the second outing.

Game 1: Rutgers University-Newark 7, Stevens Institute 4 (8 inn.)

Jamir Ramos picked up his first win of the season, pitching one inning and forcing two fly outs and one ground out to close out the game in the eighth inning. Michael Matusz got the start on the mound and hurled five innings with six strikeouts and allowed two runs on three hits. 

Matthew Rypkema went 1-for-5 from the dish and put that hit to good use as he belted in a pair of runs. Connor Clare finished with one hit and an RBI on three trips to home while Andre Tirso finished 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

The Scarlet Raiders were first on the board when Clare hit a two-out single to left field which brought home Adam Thompson who was hit by a pitch one batter before Clare took to the plate. 

In the fourth, the Scarlet Raiders found their stride and scored three runs. A trio of walks set up Rypkema who hit a 2 RBI single to second base which brought in Ramos and Tommy Scanlon. Rypkema would get caught in a pickle and during that confusion, John Klimowich was able to sneak home before Rypkema would eventually be tossed out trying to reach home. 

Down 4-0, the Ducks needed to get their bats going and they would respond in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs to cut the lead down to two. With a pair of runs on the board, the Ducks began to gain confidence which allowed them to score another pair in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game up at four.

Neither team scored a run in the seventh which set up extra innings in the first game of the season. In the eighth, Clare crossed home after a fielding error allowed him to get to the dish before Kevin Tamsula would score off of wild pitch. Up 6-4, Tirso took two pitches and homered the third over the right field wall to increase their lead to three over the Ducks.

Ramos came in for the eighth inning to pitch and quickly disposed of a trio of batters to open the 2020 campaign with a win.

Game 2: Stevens Institute 9, Rutgers University-Newark 4.

Michael Katims got the ball to start game two on the mound and tossed four innings with three strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs. Marcus James came in and threw four innings with six strikeouts while allowing three runs on three hits. 

Rypkema finished 2-for-4 with an RBI while Thompson went 3-for-4 with a walk.

The Scarlet Raiders found themselves behind quickly after Stevens hit a 2 RBI double to right center which was followed up by a 2 RBI homer to center field. Rutgers University-Newark responded with a pair of runs when Scanlon doubled down the left field line to score Chris Suleski. Lisandro Ulerio reached first on a fielding error which allowed Scanlon to cross home.

A pair of single RBIs by Stevens further increased the lead and put the game out of reach for the Scarlet Raiders despite scoring two more runs. 

The baseball squad will return to action on Saturday, February 22 when they host Roger Williams University at 12:00 pm.