Newark, NJ| The Rutgers University-Newark baseball squad went up against Fairleigh Dickinson University in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon. RU-N split the twin-bill shutting out FDU-Florham in the first game 5-0 and losing a tight contest in the second 5-3. The Scarlet Raiders move to 3-5 while the Knights pick up their first win of the year and are now 1-3.

Game 1: Rutgers-Newark 5, Farleigh Dickinson 0

The opening game was controlled by the starting pitchers, Michael Matusz and Joseph Kastner. Matusz hurled a complete-game shutout, going nine strong innings allowing just five hits, one walk, and no runs. Kastner allowed no runs on only two hits and a walk but was pulled from the game after just five innings. 

Adam Thompson went 2-for-4 from the dish with three RBI and a run scored. Connor Clare was 2-for-3 driving in a run while scoring one as well. John Klimowich was the third Scarlet Raider with an RBI in the game as he finished with one hit on three trips. 

Rutgers-Newark mustered just two hits within the first five innings of play with both starters dealing as the score stood 0-0. Joseph Kastner was pulled from the game before the start of the sixth and replaced by Anthony Molina. The men of Newark took complete advantage of the new pitcher as they malled him for five runs on five hits. There was one out with men on first and second, Lisandro Ulerio was hit by a pitch which allowed for Adam Thomson to step to the plate with the bases loaded. He smoked a bases-clearing three-run opposite-field triple to right-center field driving in the first runs of the game. Connor Clare doubled to center bringing Thompson home, followed by another opposite-field triple, this time via John Klimowich making the score 5-0.

Molina would settle in for the rest of the game, where he would surrender just one hit. Michael Matusz continued his near-perfect performance, and never gave the Knights a slither of hope. The Scarlet Raiders took the first game handily, 5-0.

Game 2: Rutgers-Newark 3, Fairleigh Dickinson 5 (7 innings)

Michael Katims go the ball to start game two on the mound and tossed 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and allowed three earned runs on eight hits. Marcus James finished off the sixth inning with one strikeout allowing one unearned run on one hit. Armando Alvarez pitched the seventh, allowing no runs with one strikeout and a walk.  

John Klimowich was the sole Scarlet Raiders with multiple hits in this one as he went 2-for-3. Mathew Rypkema and Connor Clare drove in an RBI each as Clare finished the game with one hit on three at-bats.

The baseball squad got on the board first as Connor Clare got things started in the first inning with an RBI single through the left side of the infield scoring Lisandro Ulerio. The Scarlet Raiders added a second run in the fifth when Jamir Ramos scored from third base on a passed ball after Adam Thompson struck out. 

Michael Katims looked strong through five innings but was charged with three of the five runs that scored during the sixth. With two men on and nobody out Tyler McCulloch raked a two-run triple to left-center to tie the game. On the very next pitch, Ryan Toomey hit a ball right over the glove of 1B Connor Clare, driving in McCulloch. Katims was pulled after Joe Moskowitz singled up the middle. The Knights added two more runs after Marcus James entered with a Nate Peacock single that brought Moskowitz home and Chris Ciancimino scoring from third as Peakcock stole second. The Knights took the lead and were leading 5-2.

The Scarlet Raiders added their third and final run of the game on a Matthew Rypkema groundout scoring Chris Suleski from third. John Franco closed the game out for the Knights as he pitched the final two innings. Rutgers University-Newark fell to Fairleigh Dickinson University 5-3. 

The baseball squad will return to action on Tuesday, March 3 as they take on The College At Old Westbury inside Weequahic Park at 3:30 pm.