NEWARK, NJ | The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team played a lengthy battle this evening in the rain against baseball newcomer St. Elizabeth College. In their first collegiate game, the baseball team from the College of Saint Elizabeth stole a victory from the Scarlet Raiders winning 9-7 in comeback fashion. RU-N falls to 2-3 on the year while the Eagles get in the win column at 1-0.
In what is becoming Scarlet Raiders' fashion, the baseball team once again pounced on their opponent with a big early lead. This time they went up 6-0 after one inning. After an error allowed the inning to continue, Connor Clare brought a run home with a sac fly, from there the flood gates were open. Chris Suleski drove in two with a single to right, Tommy Scanlon smacked a double to right driving in another pair, and Jamir Ramos knocked a single to right to bring in the sixth unearned run of the inning for the Scarlet Raiders.
The Scarlet Raiders were able to add to their already impressive lead when Mathew Rypkema drove home Michael Streim with a single to right in the third. Through three innings starting pitcher, Marcus James held a no-hitter and seemed to be firing on all cylinders.
The fourth inning is when the game took a turn, the comeback was on. The Eagles of St. Elizabeth scored the first run in team history with the RBI credited to Drew Zimmerman on a double to left. Jahi Williams scored on the play and will go down in the record books as the first player to record a hit and to score a run in school history. The Eagles added on with RBI's from Brandon Wreckler, and John Capozzoli.
The Eagles eventually came back to tie the game up in the sixth after a costly muffed ball from the first baseman allowed two runs to come in. Two more runs were added on in the seventh after Anthony Russo scored on a passed ball and Joe Brong scored on a muffed throw. Two of the many unearned runs on the day for the Eagles.
The Scarlet Raiders had their opportunities to cash in with two men being left on base in three of the final four innings. The table was set to tie the game during the bottom of the eighth when Michael Streim stepped up to the plate with two outs and men on second and third. He struck out swinging, and the opportunities to tie the game were now dwindling.
The Eagles went down one, two, three in the ninth and the Scarlet Raiders down two had one last chance to tie the game. John Kilmowich with the chance to play hero had runners on first and second with two outs. He winded up popping up to end the game and the St. Elizabeth Eagles picked up the first win in team history.
Up next for the Scarlet Raiders will be on Friday, February 28 at home against Baruch College at 3:30 PM.
