NEWARK, N.J. – In a high-scoring NJAC matchup, Rutgers-Newark fell to Kean, 26-17, on Thursday afternoon in a game that featured 43 combined runs and 37 total hits.
Kean jumped out early, but the Scarlet Raiders responded in a big way. Rutgers-Newark used a three-run second inning to take the lead before adding four more runs in the third to build a 7-2 advantage.
The Cougars answered in the fifth, erupting for nine runs in the inning to regain control with a 14-10 lead. From there, Kean maintained its offensive pressure, further distancing the lead with Rutgers-Newark the rest of the way.
Kean delivered the decisive blow in the top of the ninth, plating 10 runs to push the game out of reach. Rutgers-Newark answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, but it was not enough to mount a comeback.
Despite the setback, the Scarlet Raiders continued to produce offensively. Rutgers-Newark finished with 18 hits, led by Joseph Bernard, Malik Little, and RJ Kernan, who each recorded three hits. Kernan and Little both homered on the evening, with Little driving in three runs while Kernan crossed the plate five times.
The two teams will be back at it tomorrow, this time at Kean, for the second game of a home-and-away NJAC matchup.
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