DAVENPORT, Fla. - Rutgers-Newark fell to Scranton 7-2 in game three of their Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational, with Scranton breaking open a close game with a strong offensive showing in the fifth and ninth innings.
The Scarlet Raiders managed to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring one to get on the board first. However, Scranton responded with a four-run explosion in the top of the fifth, quickly gaining control of the game. Rutgers-Newark was unable to recover as Scranton continued to add to its lead, with one run in the eighth and two more in the ninth.
Rutgers-Newark's offense struggled to mount a significant comeback despite a strong performance from Paul Recchia, who went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored two runs, and drove in one RBI. The Scarlet Raiders did manage to score another run in the bottom of the eighth, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
On the mound, Chase Ostrowski took the loss for Rutgers-Newark after allowing four earned runs in 4.2 innings of work. He struck out three batters while facing 25. For Scranton, Matt Fischer delivered a stellar performance, pitching five innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out six.
With the loss, Rutgers-Newark now shifts its focus to the next challenge, as they look to bounce back after the tough defeat with a game against Springfield College on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.
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