Baseball 2008

Field conditions force cancellation
of Rutgers-Camden's final game

CAMDEN (April 29, 2008) – Unplayable field conditions forced the cancellation of the final scheduled game for the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team today. The Scarlet Raptors were supposed to play at Gwynedd-Mercy College.

The contest will not be rescheduled.

Rutgers-Camden closes its season with a 9-27 record.

NJCU sweeps Rutgers-Camden
in final NJAC doubleheader

JERSEY CITY (April 26, 2008) – The New Jersey City University baseball team collected 16 hits in each game and sophomore catcher Alex Mena (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) had four hits and seven RBIs in the nightcap as the Gothic Knights swept Rutgers University-Camden, 9-6 and 15-2, in the final New Jersey Athletic Conference games of the season for both clubs.

The sweep helped the Gothic Knights clinch ninth place in the final conference standings and drop Rutgers-Camden into the league cellar for the second straight season. The two teams had entered the doubleheader tied for ninth place. NJCU improves to 12-26 overall and 4-14 in the conference. Rutgers-Camden falls to 9-27 and 2-16.

Game One

The Gothic Knights overcame a 5-1 deficit on the way to their 9-6 victory, with freshman shortstop Tom Burke (Edison, NJ/Immaculata) leading the way with a 4-for-4 game and two RBIs. Sophomore left fielder Josue Martinez (Bronx, NY/Walton) went 3-for-5 with one run and two RBIs, while senior center fielder Rob Sumner (Union, NJ/Union), junior third baseman Kristopher Brus (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) and junior DH Mark Hoyer (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge) each added two hits.

Rutgers-Camden broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run third inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple from junior designated hitter Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton). He scored on a single by sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran).
New Jersey City bounced right back with five runs in the bottom of the third, capped by Burke’s two-run double down the left field line, which put the Gothic Knights ahead to stay.

The winning pitcher was senior Anthony Cacchiola (Union, NJ/Union), who scattered nine hits and five walks while evening his record at 3-3. He allowed six runs (four earned) and struck out eight.

Junior Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) took the loss, working five innings and allowing 12 hits, three walks and nine earned runs. Wright (2-7) struck out six.

Sophomore left fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) went 3-for-4 with one run for the Raptors, while sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) went 2-for-4 with one run. Gabrielski finished 1-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.

Game Two

New Jersey City jumped to a 7-0 lead after three innings and held a 14-1 lead after six innings on the way to its sweep. Mena was the offensive sparkplug, going 4-for-5 including a pair of triples and a double for nine total bases. He had a two-run double in a four-run third inning and a two-run triple in the Gothic Knights’ three-run fifth. He capped his huge game with a three-run triple in the sixth inning as NJCU scored four more runs.

In addition to Mena, Sumner went 3-for-5 with two runs, Burke was 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs and senior second baseman Andrew Decibus (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) went 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Brus added three runs scored.

Rutgers-Camden collected only six hits off a trio of NJCU pitchers, including a single and a double by Gabrielski. Fruits also added a double.
NJCU senior starter Baldwin Vargas (New York, NY/Alfred Smith) worked seven innings, allowing four hits, three walks and one earned run. He struck out 14, the second-highest single-game total in NJCU history since 1949.

Senior Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) took the loss, working five innings and allowing eight hits, three walks and 10 runs (seven earned). Lihotz (2-6) struck out three.

Rutgers-Camden closes its season with a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game at Gwynedd-Mercy College Tuesday.

Rutgers-Camden edges
No. 25 Rowan University

GLASSBORO (April 25, 2008) – A trio of Rutgers-Camden pitchers held nationally-ranked Rowan University to five hits and sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) collected a home run and a two-run single to lead the Scarlet Raptors past the Profs, 5-4, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Friday.

Rutgers-Camden improves to 9-25 overall and 2-14 in the NJAC, snapping an 11-game losing streak in the conference.

Rowan, ranked No. 25 nationally in the latest ABCA/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III poll, falls to 27-9 overall. The Profs are 11-5 in NJAC play. The victory was the Scarlet Raptors’ first against a nationally-ranked team in 14 attempts this season and avenged a loss to Rowan at Campbell’s Field on April 7.

Scarlet Raptor sophomore left-hander Al Casanova (Haddon Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) earned the victory in the split pitching duties, working 4-2/3 innings and allowing three hits, three runs (one earned) and seven walks. He struck out three in collecting his first collegiate decision.

Sophomore righty Michael Kondrath (Medford Lakes, NJ/Holy Cross) hurled 2-1/3 shutout innings in relief, allowing only one hit and one hit batsman, while striking out two. Senior southpaw Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) earned his first save of the season with two innings of one-hit ball. He allowed one earned run and one walk, while striking out two.

Rutgers-Camden took a quick 2-0 lead off of Profs starting pitcher Miguel Sosa (Miami, FL/Barbara Goleman). With one out, sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) was hit by a pitch. Senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) singled to right field and both runners moved up a base on an outfield error. Hunt followed with a two-run single to left-center.
Rowan bounced back with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first, but the Raptors regained the lead in the third when Hunt crushed his second home run of the season, a two-out solo shot to left.

The Raptors tacked on another run in the fourth when sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) drilled a two-out double down the left field line. He scored on a single by sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights).

Rowan collected back-to-back singles with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Scarlet Raptors wriggled out of the jam when Park pulled the hidden ball trick to pick off the runner at second base.

Casanova loaded the bases in the fifth with three walks, and Kondrath entered the game with two outs in an attempt to thwart the rally. After hitting junior right fielder John McMullin (Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) with a pitch to force home a run, Kondrath left the bases loaded with a clutch strikeout.

Rutgers-Camden got that run back in the top of the sixth on a leadoff home run to left field by sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran). It was the first collegiate home run for Ballay.

Rowan cut the deficit to 5-4 in the eighth inning when McMullin led off with a sharp single up the middle to greet Lihotz to the mound. He advanced on a walk and a sacrifice before scoring on a ground out.

Lihotz retired the side in order in the ninth inning, aided by a fine catch in left by Colgate on a scalded line drive by senior second baseman Joe Franceschini (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East). Lihotz ended the game with a swinging strikeout as he notched his first save of the season and second career save.

For the game, Hunt went 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs for the Raptors. McMullin went 1-for-3 with one run and two RBIs for the Profs.

Rutgers-Camden closes its NJAC schedule Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader at New Jersey City University.

Ramapo weathers late rally
to edge Rutgers-Camden, 11-8

MAHWAH (April 24, 2008) – The Ramapo College baseball team overcame a quick three-run deficit, built an eight-run lead and weathered a late Rutgers-Camden rally as the Roadrunners defeated the Scarlet Raptors, 11-8, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Thursday afternoon.

Ramapo, which defeated Rutgers-Camden for the second time in a week, improves to 17-17 overall and 5-10 in the NJAC. The Scarlet Raptors fell to 8-25 overall and 1-14 in the conference, losing their 11th consecutive NJAC game.

Rutgers-Camden took a quick lead in the first inning when junior designated hitter Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) ripped a three-run home run. His shot followed a two-out triple by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and a walk to sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton).

Ramapo took the lead for good with a four-run second inning, capped by a two-run home run from senior center fielder Nick Sbarra (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township). Sbarra went 3-for-3 with one run and three RBIs on the day to lead the Roadrunners’ 13-hit attack.

Ramapo tacked on two runs in the third, aided by a solo home run from senior right fielder Jairo Jimenez (Bronx, NY/Dewitt Clinton), added an unearned run in the fourth and ended its scoring spree with a four-run fifth inning. The Roadrunners collected five hits in that frame, capped by a run-scoring triple by Sbarra.

Rutgers-Camden mounted a comeback beginning with a single run in the seventh inning. Freshman right fielder Dennis Hill (Pilesgrove, NJ/Woodstown) opened the frame with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and completed his tripe around the bases on a pair of ground outs. Sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) collected an RBI on his grounder to second.

The Raptors added another run in the eighth when Hunt was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a single by sophomore first baseman Rick Fougeray (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional).

Rutgers-Camden made things interesting in the ninth with five hits and three runs. The inning started with back-to-back singles by Fruits and Park, followed by a double steal. Fruits scored on a ground out by Hunt and Gabrielski singled home Park. Freshman left fielder A.J. Calderone (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) had an infield single and junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) singled home a third run, bringing the tying run to the plate with one out. After a strikeout, Ramapo freshman Jack McDonough (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) entered the game and ended the threat with another strikeout for his third save.

Gabrielski paced the Raptors with two hits and four RBIs, while Park, Fruits, Hill and Fougeray also added two hits apiece.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Friday with a 3:30 p.m. NJAC game at Rowan University.

Rutgers-Camden’s Marchiano
steals Senior Night spotlight

CAMDEN (April 22, 2008) – On a night when the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team celebrated Senior Night and the final home appearance of its three seniors, one of those honorees stole the show.

Senior right-hander Angelo Marchiano (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) made the first start of his Rutgers-Camden career. He turned in a three-hit shutout to lead the Scarlet Raptors over Swarthmore College, 7-0, in a non-conference night game at Campbell’s Field.

Not only did Marchiano collect the first shutout and first decision of his two-year Scarlet Raptor career, but he also snapped Rutgers-Camden’s 11-game losing streak. The Raptors improved to 8-24, while the Garnet fell to 8-20 with their 10th consecutive defeat.

Marchiano, who was honored before the game along with fellow seniors Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) and Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton), entered the game with only 8-1/3 innings over eight appearances this season. He worked all nine innings while allowing only three singles, walking one and striking out five. His complete game was the fourth by a Raptor all season, joining three by Lihotz, and his shutout was the second of the season for the Raptor staff. Lihotz had the other one for the Raptors’ last victory before the 11-game losing streak.

Marchiano didn’t allow a hit until Swarthmore sophomore shortstop Thomas Nakamura (San Francisco, CA/Lowell) led off the third inning with a single to left field. The only other Garnet hits were a bunt single by junior third baseman Conor Casey (San Francisco, CA/Lowell) in the fourth inning and a leadoff single in the eighth by junior second baseman Kevin Kooi (Lafayette, CA/Preparatory School).

While Swarthmore was struggling offensively, Rutgers-Camden wasn’t faring any better for most of the game. Garnet freshman starter Neil Mejia (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park River Forest) was outstanding in a three-inning outing, allowing only one hit – a one-out double in the third inning by sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) – while walking two and striking out seven. Freshman reliever Andy Allen (Manchester, ME/St. Dominic) was nearly as tough until he was undermined by his defense in Rutgers-Camden’s four-run seventh inning.

Allen (1-4) saw the Raptors’ sophomore first baseman Dan Stuhlemmer (Collingswood, NJ/Camden Catholic) reach on a dropped fly ball to open the seventh inning. Sophomore third baseman Jamie Williams (Vineland, NJ/Delsea Regional) dropped down a sacrifice and Stuhlemmer raced all the way to third on a throwing error by Allen, who was making a play for the out at second base. After Williams stole second, sophomore designated hitter Rick Fougeray (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) ripped an RBI single to center field. Fougeray stole second while Williams raced home on a passed ball. One out later, Fougeray stole third and scored on a throwing error by Swarthmore’s catcher. With two outs, sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) reached on an error, stole second and third and also scored on a throwing error by the catcher.

Those four unearned runs were more than enough for Marchiano, but Rutgers-Camden tacked on a three-spot in the eighth inning, sparked by a leadoff walk to sophomore second baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran). Ballay advanced on a ground out and scored on Williams’ single to right field. Fougeray added an RBI double, Myers singled him to third base and sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) delivered a sacrifice fly for the final run.

While Marchiano was in charge on the mound, Park etched his name into the single-season program records. With four assists, he raised his season total to 100, making him only the fifth player in program history to reach 100 assists in one season. He is 17 shy of tying Brian Jakubowski’s single-season record, set in 2006.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Thursday with a 3:30 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference game at Ramapo College.

Moceri’s RBI grounder helps Kean
post NJAC sweep over Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN (April 19, 2008) – Sophomore designated hitter Michael Moceri (Yardville, NJ/Hamilton East) plated the tie-breaking run on a ground out in the eighth inning of the second game to help the Kean University baseball team complete a New Jersey Athletic Conference sweep over Rutgers University-Camden, 8-1 and 3-2, in a doubleheader Saturday at Campbell’s Field.

Kean, the defending NCAA Div. III national champion, improves to 27-8 overall and 11-4 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 7-24 and 1-13.

Game One

The Cougars took advantage of seven hits, eight walks, two hit batsmen and two Scarlet Raptor errors in the opening game as they posted an 8-1 victory.

Kean scored all the runs it needed in a three-run third inning, sparked by a leadoff walk from senior shortstop Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, NJ/Barringer). He advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right by senior left fielder Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West). Following a pair of walks to load the bases, Moceri hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game and another run scored on an infield single by senior DH Dan Mattonelli (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert).

For the game, Ammirata went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, while Mattonelli and senior center fielder Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) each added two hits. De La Rosa walked twice and scored three runs for the Cougars.

Winning pitcher Joe Bartlinski (South Amboy, NJ/South Amboy) raised his record to 5-2, working seven innings of three-hit ball. He walked six, struck out six and allowed one earned run.

Junior Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) took the loss, allowing three hits, seven walks and seven earned runs in 3-1/3 innings. He fanned one.

Game Two

With the score tied at 2-2, Kean collected a one-out double by senior right fielder Derek Gianakas (Edison, NJ/Edison) in the eighth inning. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch.

After Scarlet Raptors senior Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) twice appeared to strike out the next batter without getting the call, he hit sophomore first baseman Nick Nolan (Linden, NJ/Roselle Catholic) with a pitch. On the next play, Moceri hit a slow grounder to shortstop, allowing the tie-breaking run to score as the play went to first base.

Kean scored a pair of first-inning runs off of Lihotz, the first coming on Moceri’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Moments later, the Cougars ran a first-and-third play in which Ammirata was ruled to have stolen home before Gianakas was tagged out at second base in another controversial call.

The Scarlet Raptors tied the game in the sixth after walks to sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) and sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton). With two outs, junior first baseman Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) stroked a sharp single to right field and both runners ended up near third base. Hunt retreated to second ahead of a play as Colgate scored the first run. Hunt later scored on a single to left by sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran).

Lihotz (2-5) was tagged with the tough loss despite throwing a six-hitter for his third complete game of the season. He walked three and struck out three, allowing three earned runs.

Junior reliever Brandon Aich (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) picked up the win with 3-1/3 shutout innings of one-hit ball, walking one. Aich (6-1) struck out six.

De La Rosa and Ammirata each had two hits for the Cougars. Sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) went 2-for-4 for the Scarlet Raptors.

Rutgers-Camden plays its final home game Tuesday at 7 p.m. with a non-conference Senior Night game against Swarthmore College. The Scarlet Raptors will honor seniors Lihotz, Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and Angelo Marchiano (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West).

Two-run ninth inning lifts
Ramapo past Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN (April 18, 2008) – Ramapo College senior right fielder Jairo Jimenez (Bronx, NY/Dewitt Clinton) ripped a solo home run to left field leading off the ninth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie and sparking the Roadrunners over Rutgers University-Camden, 6-4, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference baseball game here Friday afternoon.

The shot by Jimenez lifted the Roadrunners to 14-16 overall and 3-9 in the NJAC. It also sent the Scarlet Raptors to their ninth straight loss. Rutgers-Camden fell to 7-22 overall and 1-11 in the conference.

The home run was the first run allowed by Raptors sophomore Michael Kondrath (Medford Lakes, NJ/Holy Cross) during his long relief stint. Ramapo added an insurance run in the ninth after junior third baseman Gino Gallagher (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar) collected a two-out infield single and stole second. He scored on a single up the middle by freshman shortstop Rob Dimperio (Jackson, NJ/Jackson).

The two teams traded leads all day, with Rutgers-Camden holding edges of 1-0 and 2-1 before Ramapo scored three runs in the fifth inning. That frame was sparked by RBI singles from junior left fielder Mike Manges (Glen Rock, NJ/Paramus Catholic) and sophomore first baseman Peter Sita (Bayonne, NJ/Hudson Catholic). Sophomore second baseman Mark Ruggiero (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Regional) capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

Rutgers-Camden bounced back to tie the game with a two-run sixth inning, started by a double from sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights). An infield error scored Colgate and a pair of singles by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) produced the tying run.

Dimperio had three hits for the Roadrunners. Colgate went 2-for-4 with one run and two RBIs for the Raptors, who collected five hits in the game. Colgate had a double and a triple for his two hits.

Raptor sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) went 0-for-4 to snap his 11-game hitting streak, the longest on the team this season.

Kondrath (0-2) took the loss, working four innings and allowing four hits, the two ninth-inning runs and one walk. He struck out one.

Ramapo junior starter Dan Mulligan (Wilmington, DE/Concord) was the winning pitcher, working eight innings of five-hit ball. He allowed four runs (two earned) and four walks, while striking out three.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday with a 4 p.m. NJAC doubleheader as it hosts Kean University, the defending NCAA Division III national champions.

22-hit attack powers DeSales
past Rutgers-Camden, 18-8

CENTER VALLEY, Penn. (April 16, 2008) – The DeSales University baseball team ripped 22 hits against four Rutgers-Camden pitchers, including four apiece by sophomore left fielder Andrew Feher (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades) and junior shortstop Greg Treat (Concord, NJ/Concord), as the Bulldogs defeated the Scarlet Raptors, 18-8, in a non-conference game here Wednesday.

DeSales improved to 14-16-1, snapping a three-game losing streak. Rutgers-Camden suffered its eighth straight loss, falling to 7-21.

DeSales exploded for five runs on six hits in the second inning before tacking on a pair of runs in the third to grab a 7-0 lead. Rutgers-Camden cut the gap to 8-4 with a three-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from sophomore third baseman Jamie Williams (Vineland, NJ/Delsea Regional), but DeSales sent 10 batters to the plate and collected six hits in a seven-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach. Freshman catcher Tim Fiorito (Mesa, AZ/Seton Catholic) and junior second baseman Nick Repas (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) each collected a two-run single in the inning.

On the day, Treat went 4-for-5 with five runs and one RBI, while Feher was 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs. Fiorito and Repas each collected three hits and five RBIs for the Bulldogs.

Rutgers-Camden had 11 hits of its own off of four DeSales pitchers, with sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) leading the way with a 4-for-5 game. Hunt, who scored two runs and drove home two, extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest on the team this season. He also raised his batting average to .380.

Sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) and sophomore shortstop Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) each went 2-for-4. Colgate’s two hits raised his team-leading batting average to .397.

Hunt, Williams and junior designated hitter Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) each had two RBIs for Rutgers-Camden.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Friday when it hosts Ramapo College at 3:30 p.m. in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader.

Rutgers-Camden tops Div. III
in double plays per game

CAMDEN (April 16, 2008) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team has been among the NCAA Division III national leaders all season in turning double plays, and now the Scarlet Raptors are No. 1.

Rutgers-Camden is ranked as the top team in the nation in that category in the latest NCAA Division III statistics, which includes all games through Sunday. In that span, the Scarlet Raptors turned 37 double plays in 27 games for an average of 1.37 per game.

The Raptors also ranked tied for No. 5 nationally in total double plays with the 37 twin killings.

Rutgers-Camden’s big jump was aided by turning seven double plays in a doubleheader at William Paterson University Saturday. Included in that twinbill was a club record five double plays in the second game. Sophomore first baseman Rick Fougeray (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) was a part of all five double plays, setting an individual single-game record.

The doubleheader output also allowed junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) to set the program’s single-season record with 26 double plays, breaking the mark of 25 set by Brian Jakubowski in 2006. Right behind Straga is senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton), who has turned 24 double plays this season.

Rutgers-Camden’s Fimiani earns
NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week

CAMDEN (April 14, 2008) – Rutgers University-Camden freshman Dan Fimiani (Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Week today after a stellar outing against nationally-ranked The College of New Jersey on Thursday.

In his second collegiate start, Fimiani held the powerful Lions hitless for 6-1/3 innings before allowing an RBI single for his lone hit. He walked five and hit four batters, while striking out one. He allowed one earned run in his 6-1/3 innings and left with a 2-1 lead. He would have had his first collegiate win, but the Lions rallied for four runs in the ninth inning for a 5-2 victory.

Fimiani’s no-hit bid is all the more impressive considering TCNJ is ranked No. 4 in the d3baseball.com Top 25 poll and No. 7 in the ABCA national rankings.

A 6-foot-2 right-hander out of Schalick High School, Fimiani has worked in 10 games, making two starts, for the Scarlet Raptors this season. He has allowed 18 hits and 21 walks in 21-2/3 innings, while striking out 12. Most of that damage came in his first collegiate outing when he allowed three hits, two walks and five earned runs in 2/3 of an inning against Moravian College, Feb. 24. After his first two outings, Fimiani had a 67.50 ERA and he has lowered that mark to 4.98 since then.

Fimiani has been one of the hottest pitchers on the Raptors in the last week, working 9-2/3 innings over three appearances, while allowing only one hit and one earned run.

Fimiani is the second Rutgers-Camden hurler to be honored by the NJAC this season. Junior southpaw Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) was recognized as the NJAC Pitcher of the Week on March 3.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Wednesday with a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game at De Sales University. The Scarlet Raptors’ next home game is Friday, when it faces Ramapo College in a 3:30 p.m. NJAC contest.

William Paterson sweeps
Rutgers-Camden, 12-5, 8-4

WAYNE (April 12, 2008) – The William Paterson University baseball team ripped 31 hits and extended its New Jersey Athletic Conference winning streak to six games as it swept Rutgers University-Camden, 12-5 and 8-4, here Saturday.

The Pioneers improved to 19-9 overall and 9-2 in the NJAC. The Scarlet Raptors fell to 7-20 and 1-10.

Game One

In the first game, Paterson sophomore Scott Zirul (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) scattered nine hits and allowed five runs (four earned) in a complete-game performance. He walked two and struck out three in raising his record to 5-0.

Paterson pounded out 17 hits, including three apiece by sophomore second baseman Vincent Ganz (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross), senior shortstop Dan Limone (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck), senior third baseman Anthony Perrone (Midland Park, NJ/Bergen Catholic) and sophomore left fielder Andrue Laguerre (Jersey City, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep). Perrone had a double, two triples, two runs and two RBIs, while Ganz had two doubles, two runs and four RBIs.

Rutgers-Camden opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first, but the Pioneers responded with two scores in the first and a single run in the third for a 3-1 lead.  The Scarlet Raptors tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth, scoring twice thanks to a passed ball and a RBI-ground out by junior designated hitter Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St.  Joseph-Hammonton), but William Paterson took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth. The Pioneers added five runs in the fifth, highlighted by Ganz’s two-run double down the right-field line.

Sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) and senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) were both 2-for-5 for the Scarlet Raptors. 

Senior starter Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) suffered the loss, allowing 12 hits and nine runs (five earned). Lihotz (2-4) walked two, hit one and struck out three.

Game Two

In the nightcap, Rutgers-Camden took a quick 1-0 lead on a firsts-inning bases-loaded walk to sophomore second baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran). Paterson took the lead for good with a four-run third inning, which included an RBI double from Ganz.

William Paterson tacked on three more runs in the fourth, when sophomore right fielder  Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, NJ/Northern Highlands) emptied the bases with a triple to right-center, giving the Pioneers a 7-1 advantage.  The Scarlet Raptors fought back to score twice during the seventh inning, and had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but Pioneer starter Steve Schlitzer (West New York, NJ/Memorial) was able to induce an inning-ending fly out to maintain a 7-3 edge.

Schlitzer struck out seven and walked six in seven innings, giving up two hits and three runs for the victory (3-2).  Senior Steve VandeVrede (Lincoln Park, NJ/Pequannock) pitched the final 2.0 innings, striking out four and allowing two hits and a run.

Rutgers-Camden freshman Eric Bosworth (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) took the loss for Rutgers-Camden, throwing two innings and giving up seven hits and four runs.

Ganz was 2-for-3 in the nightcap with a double. Guadango nearly hit for the cycle with a single, double and triple, finishing 3-for-5 with three RBI.

Rutgers-Camden will play a non-conference game at DeSales Wednesday, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Stockton nine outlasts
Rutgers-Camden, 4-3

POMONA (April 11, 2008) – Junior center fielder Chris Discher (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) collected a run-scoring single on a fourth-inning squeeze bunt and senior shortstop Pat Goodwin (Mays Landing, NJ/Holy Spirit) added an RBI on a sacrifice bunt to power the Richard Stockton College baseball team over Rutgers University-Camden, 4-3, here Friday afternoon in New Jersey Athletic Conference action.

The Ospreys improve to 17-8 overall and 5-4 in the NJAC, while the Scarlet Raptors fall to 7-18 and 1-8.
Stockton’s two-run rally, which broke a 2-2 tie, came on two hits and two walks. It also came a half-inning after the Raptors had tied the score on a triple by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and a RBI single by sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton).

The Scarlet Raptors, who had shut out Stockton, 3-0, on April 3 for their lone conference win, cut the gap to 4-3 in the sixth inning after Park was hit by a pitch, Hunt singled and sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) advanced the runners with a sacrifice. Junior designated hitter Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) singled home Park.

The Raptors put a pair of runners on base in the ninth inning against sophomore reliever John O’Hara (Clayton, NJ/Gloucester Catholic), including a leadoff single by Gabrielski. O’Hara, however, stranded the tying run at second base as he earned his fourth save. He hurled one scoreless inning, allowing two hits and striking out one.

Sophomore Joe Mihalyi (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) hurled six innings to pick up the win, improving to 4-0. He allowed five hits, three earned runs and three walks, while striking out three.

Rutgers-Camden junior southpaw Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) was the losing pitcher despite hurling his first complete game of the year. In eight innings he allowed nine hits, four runs (three earned) and two walks. Wright (2-5) struck out 10, the highest total by the Raptor staff this season.

Senior right fielder Joe Sacerdote (Deptford, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple for the Ospreys. Junior center fielder Chris Discher (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run as he extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Hunt went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI for the Raptors as he extended his hitting streak to eight games. It is the longest streak on the team this season. Gabrielski went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday with a conference doubleheader at William Paterson University, beginning at 12 p.m. Stockton also has a NJAC doubleheader Saturday, playing Rutgers-Newark at First Energy Park in Lakewood, beginning at 4 p.m.

TCNJ’s ninth-inning rally
stuns Rutgers-Camden, 5-2

CAMDEN (April 10, 2008) – Nationally-ranked The College of New Jersey scored four runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to stun the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team, 5-2, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game Thursday afternoon at Campbell’s Field.

TCNJ, ranked seventh nationally in the ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Division III Top 25 poll and fourth in the d3baseball.com poll, improves to 20-3 overall and 7-1 in the NJAC. The Lions have won 12 of their last 13 games.

Rutgers-Camden falls to 7-17 overall and 1-7 in the conference with its fourth straight loss.

For 8-2/3 innings, it appeared the Raptors would not only snap that losing streak, but shock one of the nation’s top programs in the process. Rutgers-Camden received no-hit pitching from freshman Dan Fimiani (Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) for 6-1/3 innings before senior right fielder Matt Barrett (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) lined a RBI single to left field for the Lions’ first hit and run. Fimiani left the game with a 2-1 lead and the Raptors protected the edge until the last moment.

With one out in the top of the ninth, freshman pinch-hitter Matt Giermanski (Oradell, NJ/River Dell Regional) drew a walk and freshman Elliot Stein (Middletown, DE/Middletown) went in as a pinch-runner. After a strikeout sent the Lions down to their last out, senior center fielder Dave Mebs (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) hit a slow roller to the left of the mound. Raptor senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) raced in for a do-or-die play, but his off-balance throw was bounced in the dirt as Mebs beat out an infield hit. Junior second baseman Adam Tussey (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) dropped a two-run single into right-center field and advanced to second as the Raptors’ relay to the plate sailed high for an error in an unsuccessful attempt to nail the go-ahead run. Junior shortstop Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville) followed with a triple to right-center, then scored on an infield error.

Prior to Mebs’ infield hit in the ninth inning, Fimiani (6-1/3 innings, one hit, one earned run, five walks, four hit batters and one strikeout) and three relievers shut down the Lions on just one hit. The Scarlet Raptors scored single runs in the fourth and fifth and nearly made that margin stand up.

In the fourth, Park drew a one-out walk, advanced on a ground out and scored on a two-out single to center by sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran). One inning later, junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an error.

TCNJ’s first run came in the seventh when sophomore left fielder Chris Esperon (Union, NJ/Union Catholic) was hit by a pitch, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on the Lions’ first hit, Barrett’s single.

TCNJ’s second pitcher of the game, senior Brad Kittle (Millville, NJ/Millville) picked up the victory when the Lions rallied in the ninth. Kittle (1-0) worked three innings of one-hit shutout ball, striking out three. Junior Eric Gertie (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) collected his fifth save with a scoreless ninth inning. He allowed one hit and survived an infield error to end the game on a fly out with the potential tying run at the plate.

Sophomore Michael Kondrath (Medford Lakes, NJ/Holy Cross) took the loss to drop to 0-1.

Rutgers-Camden sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) was the lone batter in the game to collect multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

Both teams return to conference action Friday with 3:30 p.m. road games. TCNJ faces Ramapo College, while Rutgers-Camden battles Richard Stockton College.

Cichy hurls Rowan nine
past Rutgers-Camden, 4-2

CAMDEN (April 7, 2008) – Rowan University senior lefty Joe Cichy (Vineland, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) took a shutout into the ninth inning and the Profs escaped a late Rutgers-Camden rally to beat the Scarlet Raptors, 4-2, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference makeup game Monday afternoon at Campbell’s Field.

Rowan, which is ranked 16th in the latest ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Top 25 poll and received votes toward the d3baseball.com national poll, improves to 17-7 overall and 4-4 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden falls to 7-16 and 1-6.

In a tight pitchers’ duel between senior southpaws Cichy and Rutgers-Camden’s Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast), the Profs finally broke a scoreless deadlock with two runs in the fourth inning. Senior second baseman Joe Franceschini (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) drew a leadoff walk and scored on a two-out triple to left-center by senior third baseman Paul Urbanovich (Rutherford, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep). That hit broke a scoreless string of 13 straight innings for Lihotz, who hurled a shutout in his previous outing and hadn’t allowed a run since the eighth inning of a loss at The College of New Jersey March 27.

Junior designated hitter Tom Reindel (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) followed with a RBI single to plate Urbanovich.

The Profs added another run in the sixth inning following a leadoff double by Urbanovich, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, one RBI and an outstanding defensive game at third base. Reindel followed with a deep fly ball to right field. Urbanovich tagged and came all the way around to score on an overthrow to third base.

The Profs added their final run in the top of the ninth following a leadoff single by Urbanovich. He advanced to third base on a stolen base and a throwing error, and then scored on a double by senior catcher Robert Fox (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean Township).

That 4-0 lead looked like more than enough for Cichy, who entered the ninth inning with a two-hit shutout and only two walks. After retiring the first batter on a ground out, however, Cichy walked three straight batters and was relieved by junior Kevin O’Hara (Clayton, NJ/Gloucester Catholic). Sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) greeted O’Hara with a two-run single, snapping a string of 17-2/3 consecutive scoreless innings for the Raptors, who hadn’t scored since the eighth inning of a 17-inning loss to Rutgers-Newark Saturday.

Junior Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) followed with a pinch-hit single to right field, loading the bases and placing the tying run at second base. O’Hara nailed down his third save of the season with a swinging strikeout and a 3-1 ground out to end the threat.

Cichy (2-2) allowed two hits, five walks and two earned runs in 8-1/3 innings, while striking out six. Lihotz (2-3) worked seven innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs and one walk. He struck out two.

Rowan collected seven hits in the game, with three by Urbanovich and two apiece by Reindel and Fox. Rutgers-Camden had four singles, including the two-run hit by Ballay and the pinch-hit single by Gabrielski.

Rowan hosts Wesley College Tuesday in a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Thursday when it entertains The College of New Jersey in a 3:30 p.m. NJAC contest.

Rutgers-Newark survives marathon
to sweep Rutgers-Camden nine

CAMDEN (April 5, 2008) – Junior catcher Gerard Russomanno (Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley) doubled home the tie-breaking run in the top of the 17th inning of the nightcap to lift the Rutgers-Newark baseball team to a 13-4, 8-6 sweep over Rutgers-Camden in a New Jersey Athletic Conference baseball marathon Saturday afternoon and evening at Campbell’s Field.

The second game lasted 4:48 and the 17 innings made it the longest game in Rutgers-Camden baseball history. The previous record of 12 innings was accomplished eight times, last on April 22, 2007 when the Raptors lost a 6-5 game at The College of New Jersey.
The sweep lifts Rutgers-Newark to 11-11 overall and 4-3 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden falls to 7-15 and 1-5.

Game One

In the first game, the Scarlet Raiders ripped 16 hits and took advantage of eight walks and three hit batsmen to defeat the Scarlet Raptors. Newark scored four runs in the sixth inning to break open a tight 3-2 lead.

The Scarlet Raiders scored three runs in the game on bases-loaded walks and one on a hit batsman with the bases loaded. Seven of the Newark runners who scored were put aboard by either a walk or as a hit batsman.

Freshman second baseman Matt Connors (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) paced Newark, going 4-for-5 with two runs, three RBIs and a stolen base from his leadoff spot. Junior right fielder Brian Gill (Manasquan, NJ/Wall), sophomore DH Anthony Yeswita (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights), senior first baseman Dan Zika (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley), senior left fielder Doug Ford (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) and Russomanno each added two hits.

The first five batters in the Newark lineup – Connors, Gill, Yeswita, Zika and Ford, combined to go 12-for-26 with six runs and 10 RBIs.
Sophomore Dan Nodarse (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) worked seven innings, allowing nine hits, four earned runs and two walks. He struck out four while evening his record at 1-1.

For the Raptors, sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI), senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and sophomore catcher Paul Painter (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) each had two hits. Sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) collected three RBIs.

Game Two

The second game lasted five innings longer than the previous Rutgers-Camden record for innings, as the two teams matched scoreless innings from the ninth through the 16th inning. In the top of the 17th, a two-out walk to sophomore shortstop Michael Dennis (Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood) started the Raiders’ winning rally. Russomanno, who caught all 26 innings on the day for Newark, ripped a double to right-center field to plate Dennis, and then scored on a single up the middle by freshman center fielder Matt Citro (Bloomsbury, NJ/Phillipsburg).

Trailing by as much as 4-1 early in the game, Rutgers-Camden fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth on an unearned run, setting the stage for a marathon which featured 120 at bats, 27 hits, nine walks, seven errors and six hit batsmen in a game that started at 3:13 p.m. and lasted until 8:01. Two players on each side collected eight at bats apiece, including Fruits and Myers for the Raptors, who broke the old Rutgers-Camden mark of seven at bats in a game held by five players.

Zika collected 19 putouts at first base for the Scarlet Raiders, while Rutgers-Camden sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) notched eight assists, two shy of the single-game program record.

Rutgers-Camden sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) went 4-for-7 on the day, while sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) added three hits.

For Newark, Russomanno paced the attack with three hits, including the game-winning double.

Junior pitcher Christian Diaz (New Milford, NJ/New Milford), the last of four Newark pitchers, picked up the win with two shutout innings. He allowed no hits and one walk. Diaz (1-1) struck out two. Perhaps the best performance on the mound was turned in by Newark junior Robert Falk (Englishtown, NJ/Manalapan), who worked six shutout innings in relief, allowing only two hits. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.

Rutgers-Camden freshman Eric Bosworth (Westford, MA/Westford Academy), the last of six Raptor pitchers, took the loss, allowing two earned runs, one walk and two hits in two innings. Bosworth fell to 1-4.

Rutgers-Camden hosts Rowan University in a NJAC makeup game Monday at 3:30 p.m. That game was postponed by rain on Friday. Rutgers-Newark has a non-conference makeup game Wednesday when it travels to De Sales University for a 3:30 p.m. game.

Rutgers-Camden, Rowan
postponed by rain

CAMDEN (April 4, 2008) – The New Jersey Athletic Conference baseball game between Rutgers University-Camden and Rowan University, scheduled for today at Campbell’s Field, has been postponed due to rain. It has been rescheduled for Monday, April 7, in Camden at 3:30 p.m.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday, weather permitting, when it hosts NJAC rival Rutgers-Newark in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.

Lihotz hurls four-hit shutout
as Rutgers-Camden tops Stockton

CAMDEN (April 3, 2008) – Rutgers University-Camden senior southpaw Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) hurled a four-hitter for his first career shutout as the Scarlet Raptors defeated Richard Stockton College, 3-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference baseball game Thursday afternoon at Campbell’s Field.

The victory snaps the Scarlet Raptors’ seven-game losing streak and lifts Rutgers-Camden to 7-13 overall and 1-3 in the NJAC. Stockton falls to 14-6 overall and 2-3 in the conference.

Lihotz (2-2) turned in an outstanding effort on the way to his second straight complete game. He allowed only four singles, one hit batsman and four walks – one intentionally. Lihotz struck out two in his shutout. He ended the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, finishing up the game with a swinging strikeout.

The shutout was the first by a Rutgers-Camden pitcher since Greg Galbraith hurled a six-inning 6-0 shutout over Delaware Valley College May 1, 2007. Galbraith also had a seven-inning shutout over Occidental, 7-0, on March 12, 2006. It was the first nine-inning shutout by a Raptor pitcher since Tom Ford blanked Stockton, 7-0, on April 9, 2004, which also was the last time a Rutgers-Camden hurler threw a shutout in NJAC play.

Lihotz was in trouble only once, when the Ospreys loaded the bases in the sixth inning, starting with a two-out walk. A single and an outfield error placed runners at second and third, and Lihotz issued an intentional walk to load the bases before wriggling out of the jam with a fly to right field.

In the eighth inning, the Ospreys got a one-out walk, but Raptor catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) made a terrific block on a potential wild pitch and threw out the runner trying to advance to second. The next batter swung at a 3-0 pitch and grounded out, and Lihotz finished the game strong in the ninth inning.

Lihotz had little room for error, as the Ospreys also received a fine pitching performance from senior righty Amit Shah (Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade). Shah (2-2) worked 5-2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. He walked two, hit one and struck out four. Junior reliever Anthony Angarano (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) hurled 2-1/3 shutout innings of one-hit ball, striking out three.

Rutgers-Camden scored the only run it needed in the third inning when sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) opened with a double to left field. Ballay, who also played a fine defensive game, was sacrificed to third by junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional). He scored on a two-out single up the middle by sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI).

The Raptors added their final two runs in the sixth inning after Fruits drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. He scored on a single by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton).  Park advanced to second on a single by Hunt and eventually scored on a single by Ballay.

For the game, Ballay went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Park was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI, while Hunt went 2-for-4. Fruits was 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.

Lihotz scattered four hits and snapped the 13-game hitting streak of Stockton junior designated hitter Scott Fisher (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East), who went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Both teams return to NJAC action Friday afternoon. Stockton travels to Ewing to play The College of New Jersey in a 3:30 p.m. game. Rutgers-Camden entertains Rowan University at 3:30 p.m.

11-run third inning powers
Catholic past Rutgers-Camden

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 1, 2008) – The Catholic University of America baseball team exploded for 10 hits, including four home runs, in an 11-run third inning and went on to race past Rutgers University-Camden, 17-8, in a non-conference game here Tuesday.

The Cardinals hit five home runs overall on the day, including two by senior right fielder Robbie O’Brien (Columbia, MD/Long Reach), who had a three-run homer and a grand slam in the big third inning. That 11-run inning matched the record for the most runs ever allowed in one frame by Rutgers-Camden, which had allowed 11 in the sixth inning of a 27-4 loss to Richard Stockton College April 13, 1999.

Catholic improved to 11-8 with its sixth straight win. Rutgers-Camden lost its seventh straight game to fall to 6-13.

Senior second baseman Matthew Rosner (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) opened the third inning with a solo home run for the Cardinals, who were trailing, 2-0, at the time. Three batters later, O’Brien launched a three-run homer, and two batters after that, junior third baseman Joseph Devine (Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee) hit a two-run shot.

Catholic, which received eight hits and a walk in its first nine batters of the third inning, capped the onslaught on O’Brien’s grand slam, giving him seven RBIs in the inning. He went 2-for-3 with three runs and those seven RBIs on the day, while Devine was 3-for-4 with two runs and five RBIs.

Senior first baseman Mike Goodman (Brookville, MD/Sherwood) added a solo home run in the sixth for Catholic, which collected 17 hits, 11 walks and four hit batsmen from six Scarlet Raptor pitchers. Rutgers-Camden also made one error.

For the Scarlet Raptors, sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) went 4-for-5 with one run and three RBIs, including a two-run single in the first inning that gave Rutgers-Camden its brief 2-0 lead.

Junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) was the only other Raptor with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) and sophomore catcher Paul Painter (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) each had one hit and two runs scored for Rutgers-Camden.

Rutgers-Camden returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference play with a series of four big home games later this week. The Raptors play Richard Stockton College Thursday and Rowan University Friday in 3:30 p.m. contests at Campbell’s Field. They host Rutgers-Newark in a Saturday doubleheader at noon.

Montclair State sweeps
Rutgers-Camden nine

CAMDEN (March 29, 2008) – The Montclair State University baseball team combined for 23 hits in a doubleheader, including four apiece by senior first baseman Lou Politan (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) and junior third baseman Stephen Piscitello (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) as it swept past Rutgers University-Camden, 12-2 and 8-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Campbell’s Field.

The Red Hawks improve to 8-7 overall and 3-0 in the NJAC, stretching their winning streak to four games. Rutgers-Camden, which has lost five straight games, falls to 6-12 and 0-3.

Game One

In the first game, Montclair State plated all the runs it needed with five unearned tallies in the second inning, aided by three hits, two walks and a pair of errors. The big hit was a two-run single by senior center fielder Michael Nunes (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan).

The Red Hawks added four more runs in the sixth inning on two walks, a hit batsman, an error and three hits, including a run-scoring double by senior catcher Jeff Miller (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo). They completed their big day with a three-run seventh, highlighted by a two-run double from junior first baseman Jason Lopez (West New York, NJ/Memorial).

For the game, Piscitello went 2-for-2 with one run, while senior right fielder Robert Clark (Livingston, NJ/Seton Hall Prep), sophomore center fielder Joseph Zembryski (Rutherford, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) and senior designated hitter Jerry Casale ((Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) each scored two runs. Lopez and Nunes had two RBIs apiece.

Red Hawks starter Michael Vitale (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) collected the win to raise his record to 2-1. The junior lefty worked six innings, allowing eight hits, two runs (one earned) and two walks. He struck out five.

Rutgers-Camden collected two hits apiece from sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville), senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton), sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional).

Junior southpaw Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) took the loss, working five innings, allowing six hits, seven runs (one earned) and walking five. Wright (2-4) struck out five.

Game Two

The Red Hawks scored runs in the first four innings of the nightcap to take a 7-1 lead on the way to their win. They broke open the game with three runs in the top of the second innings. The big blow came on a two-run triple by Nunes to snap a 1-1 tie.

Politan went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Piscitello and Nunes each went 2-for-4 for Montclair State.

Red Hawks senior righty Tim Stringer (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) worked the first five innings, allowing only one hit and one unearned run, to collect his first win of the season. Stringer (1-2) walked one and struck out six.

Rutgers-Camden collected only two hits off four MSU pitchers, with both Myers and Hunt collecting a single.

Rutgers-Camden sophomore starter Jordan Cohen (Rockledge, PA/Abington) took the loss to fall to 1-3. He worked three innings, allowing seven hits, six runs (five earned) and two walks. Cohen fanned one.

Both teams play non-conference road games on Tuesday. Rutgers-Camden has a 3:30 p.m. makeup game at Catholic University of America, while Montclair State plays a 4 p.m. game at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Ramos-Dominko hurls No. 6 TCNJ
to 5-1 victory over Rutgers-Camden

EWING (March 27, 2008) – The College of New Jersey junior righty Dan Ramos-Dominko (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) tossed a four-hitter and the nationally-ranked Lions scored three runs in the first inning to post a 5-1 victory over Rutgers University-Camden here Thursday in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

TCNJ improves to 12-2 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 6-10 and 0-1.

The Lions, ranked No. 6 in the NCBWA and d3baseball.com Division III poll and No. 8 in the ABCA/Collegiate Baseball poll, scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, junior second baseman Adam Tussey (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) was hit by a pitch and scored on a triple to right-center by junior shortstop Jeff Toth (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville). Junior third baseman Vince Mazzaccaro (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) followed with a RBI double to left-center field, was balked to third base and scored on a ground out by senior catcher Rich Gawlak (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South).

The Scarlet Raptors got on the board in the second when junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) was hit by a pitch with two outs. He advanced a pair of bases on a wild pitch and a passed ball, and then scored on a single by sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville).

The Lions got that run back in the fifth on a two-out double by senior center fielder Dave Mebs (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) and a RBI single by Tussey.

TCNJ added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth after Toth walked, stole second and advanced on a ground out. He scored on a single by senior first baseman Bill Kropp (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts).

Ramos-Dominko finished his day with a four-hitter and 12 strikeouts. He allowed only one earned run and two walks in raising his record to 2-0.

Senior southpaw Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) hurled a seven-hitter in his eight-inning complete game. Lihotz (1-2) allowed one walk and five earned runs, while striking out two.

Mebs had two hits for TCNJ, while sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) collected two of the four hits off Ramos-Dominko for the Scarlet Raptors.

Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC play Saturday when it entertains Montclair State University in a 12 p.m. doubleheader at Campbell’s Field.

Baldino, unearned runs help
FDU-Florham top Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN (March 26, 2008) – Sophomore second baseman Chris Baldino (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham baseball team scored five unearned runs off five Rutgers-Camden errors as the Devils defeated the Scarlet Raptors, 7-5, in a non-conference game Wednesday at Campbell’s Field.

FDU-Florham improves to 6-7, snapping a three-game losing streak. Rutgers-Camden falls to 6-9 with its second straight loss.

Both teams traded runs in the first inning, with the Devils scoring an unearned tally on an error, a walk and a RBI single by senior first baseman Dan Bellino (Jackson, NJ/St. Rose). The Raptors countered with a leadoff home run to right field by sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI).

FDU added two-run innings in both the fourth and the fifth to grab a 5-1 lead. The Devils scored twice in the fourth on two errors, a walk and two hits, including an RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Greg Geran (Brick, NJ/Red Bank Catholic). They plated two more in the fifth, aided by a sacrifice fly from senior center fielder D.J. Hanna (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley) and a run-scoring single by sophomore left fielder Matt Oliveto (Union, NJ/Union Catholic).

Rutgers-Camden bounced back to tie the game with a four-run sixth inning, loading the bases on an error, a walk and a pinch-hit single by sophomore Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville). That was the first Raptor hit off FDU-Florham starter Matt Dizinno (Budd Lake, NJ/Mount Olive) since the leadoff home run by Fruits in the first inning.

Sophomore first baseman Rick Fougeray (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) chased Dizinno with a bases-clearing triple. Fougeray scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional).

The Devils broke the tie in the seventh inning on a leadoff single by Baldino, a wild pitch, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop Anthony Foster (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham). FDU-Florham tacked on an insurance run in the eighth after Bellino singled and continued to third on a two-base outfield error. He scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Marc Hubbert (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro).

Freshman John Mineo (Fanwood, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood), the second of four Devils pitchers, earned the win with one scoreless, hitless inning of relief work. He walked one and struck out one. It was the first collegiate win for Mineo, 1-1.

Sophomore Bill Buckless (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) nailed down his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit and striking out one.

In addition to Baldino’s three hits, Bellino went 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI for the Devils.

Rutgers-Camden collected only four hits, including the home run by Fruits and the three-run triple by Fougeray.

Sophomore John Diamond (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross) took the loss, allowing one unearned run in two innings. He walked one, surrendered two hits and struck out two.

Rutgers-Camden begins its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule Thursday when it plays a 3:30 p.m. game at The College of New Jersey, which is ranked No. 6 nationally.

FDU-Florham returns to action Friday with a 3:30 p.m. Freedom Conference game at King’s College.

La Verne topples Raptors
in final West Coast game

LA VERNE, Calif. (March 21, 2008) – The University of La Verne ripped 10 hits and took advantage of four walks, three hit batsmen and five Rutgers-Camden errors as it defeated the Scarlet Raptors, 12-2, in a seven-inning game at the California Invitational here Friday.

Rutgers-Camden, which earlier in the day had outlasted Claremont Mudd-Scripps, 13-12, saw its two-game winning streak snapped. The Scarlet Raptors ended their trip to California with a 2-6 record, leaving them with a 6-8 mark overall.

La Verne took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, and after the Scarlet Raptors tied the contest with an unearned run in the second, the Leopards took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the frame. The tie-breaking run was singled home by sophomore center fielder Dimitre Mondotte (Scottsdale, AZ).

The Leopards, 10-9-1, received a big game from senior designated hitter Scott Marcus (San Dimas, CA), who ripped a solo home run in the third inning and added a three-run homer in the sixth. He finished with four RBIs to back the complete-game performance of junior hurler Jesse Sweet (Springfield, OR).  Sweet hurled a six-hitter, walked one and struck out seven. He allowed two runs, one of them unearned.

The lone Raptor with two hits was sophomore designated hitter Rick Fougeray (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional), who had a pair of singles and scored a run in three at bats.

Sophomore Jordan Cohen (Rockledge, PA/Abington) took the loss, working three innings and allowing four hits, three walks and six runs, three of them unearned. Cohen, 1-2, also hit a batter.

Rutgers-Camden returns home to Campbell’s Field for a 3:30 p.m. home game Wednesday against FDU-Florham.

Big first inning lifts Rutgers-Camden
past Claremont Mudd-Scripps, 13-12

CLAREMONT, Calif. (March 21, 2008) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team exploded for seven runs in the top of the first inning and held on to outlast host Claremont Mudd-Scripps, 13-12, in the Scarlet Raptors’ first of two games at the California Invitational here Friday morning.

Rutgers-Camden improved to 6-7 with its second straight win, while Claremont Mudd-Scripps fell to 9-9-2.
The Scarlet Raptors sent 10 men to the plate in the first inning, which featured five hits and three walks. The big hit of the inning was a three-run double by sophomore third baseman Jamie Williams (Vineland, NJ/Delsea Regional).

Rutgers-Camden also scored four runs in the third inning, which included a two-run single by sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville).

While the Raptors were collecting 13 runs on 12 hits, however, the Stags were chipping away to get back into the game. When Claremont Mudd-Scripps plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth, aided by a two-run home run from freshman shortstop Ryan Kaup (Chandler, AZ/Hamilton), they cut the gap to 13-11 and set the stage for a thrilling finish in the ninth inning.

Claremont Mudd-Scripps loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth on a pair of walks, sandwiched around a single. Kaup delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 13-12 with two outs, and the Raptors brought in their sixth pitcher, sophomore Michael Kondrath (Medford Lakes, NJ/Holy Cross) in the attempt to nail down the victory. Kondrath delivered according to the plans, getting his first batter, freshman third baseman Jake Bauch (Oakland, CA/Head-Royce School) on a called third strike. Kondrath, who was making his team-leading 10th appearance of the season, collected his first career save with that clutch strikeout.

For the game, Myers and Williams each went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Three other Raptor sophomores also collected two hits apiece: center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI), catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights).

Junior Chris Kapsales (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel), the third Raptor hurler, picked up his first win, working 4-2/3 innings while allowing six hits, three walks and two runs (one earned). He struck out two.

For the Stags, sophomore left fielder Max Rose (Shell Beach, CA/San Luis Obispo) had three hits. Sophomore second baseman Travis Nishioka (Honolulu, HI/University of Washington) went 2-for-3 with three runs and four RBIs, while Kaup collected three RBIs.

The Scarlet Raptors conclude their spring break at the California Invitational later today when they travel to La Verne to face the University of La Verne at 5:30 p.m. (Eastern).

Colgate, Fruits power Raptors
to 14-5 win at Whittier College

WHITTIER, Calif. (March 20, 2008) – Sophomore outfielders Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) and Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) collected four hits apiece to power a 20-hit attack as the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team defeated host Whittier College, 14-5, here Thursday night in a game at the California Invitational.

Rutgers-Camden, which snapped a five-game losing streak, improved to 5-7. Whittier fell to 9-11-1.

The Scarlet Raptors scored a pair of runs in both the first and third innings to grab a 4-0 lead, but the Poets battled back with two-run frames in the fifth and sixth to tie the game. Rutgers-Camden, however, collected eight hit in the seventh inning to produce seven runs, highlighted by a grand slam from senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton).

Sophomore third baseman Jamie Williams (Vineland, NJ/Delsea Regional) sparked the big inning by reaching as a hit batsman. He was sacrificed to second, advanced to third on a balk and scored on a single by sophomore first baseman Dan Stuhlemmer (Collingswood, NJ/Camden Catholic). Sophomore left fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) and center fielder Fruits followed with singles, loading the bases ahead of Park’s grand slam.

Sophomore designated hitter Paul Painter (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional), sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and right fielder Colgate followed with singles to reload the bases. Williams delivered another run with a sacrifice fly to center field and junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) singled home the final run of the frame.
The Raptors added their final three runs in the ninth inning on a two-run double by Williams and a sacrifice fly by Stuhlemmer.

On the day, Colgate went 4-for-5 with one run, while Fruits was 4-for-6 and scored three times. Painter went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs, two of them coming on a third-inning home run. Myers went 3-for-6 with one run. Park went 2-for-5 with two runs and the four RBIs on the grand slam, while Williams went 1-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs. Stuhlemmer added a 1-for-4 day with one run and two RBIs, while Hunt added one hit and two runs.

Junior southpaw Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) collected the win to raise his record to 2-3. He worked seven innings, allowing nine hits and four runs (three earned). He walked six and struck out three.

Sophomore Michael Kondrath (Medford Lakes, NJ/Holy Cross) hurled the final two innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run. He walked one and struck out one.

For the Poets, junior second baseman Mike Benavente (Pico Rivera, CA/El Rancho) went 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Friday with two more games at the California Invitational to finish up their spring break trip. They play a 1 p.m. (Eastern) game at Claremont Mudd-Scripps in Claremont, and then travel to La Verne to face the University of La Verne at 5:30 p.m. (Eastern).

Menlo College topples
Rutgers-Camden nine

CLAREMONT, Calif. (March 20, 2008) – Senior second baseman Will McLoughlin (San Bruno, CA/SHCP) and junior catcher Matt Simpson (Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley) each collected a pair of RBIs to power the Menlo College baseball team over Rutgers University-Camden, 7-4, in the Scarlet Raptors’ opener at the California Invitational here Thursday.
Rutgers-Camden, which has lost five straight games, falls to 4-7. Menlo College improves to 12-6 with its fourth win in five games.

The Oaks took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a double by McLoughlin and a run-scoring single by senior left fielder Chris Budelli (Menlo Park, CA/Menlo Atherton). Rutgers-Camden bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning when senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) doubled and scored on a home run by sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton).

Menlo College took the lead for good with a four-run fourth inning, aided by two hits, two walks and a dropped fly ball which helped the Oaks plate two unearned runs. McLoughlin capped the frame with a two-run single.

Rutgers-Camden cut the gap to 5-3 with a run in the bottom of the fourth, aided by a single from junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) and a sacrifice fly by sophomore left fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville), but Menlo tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and ninth innings.

The Raptors’ final run came in the eighth on a double by Hunt and a sacrifice fly by sophomore right fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights).

For the game, Hunt went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, while Straga also went 2-for-4.

Junior first baseman Rob Monderine (San Clemente, CA/San Clemente) went 3-for-4 with two runs for the Oaks, while McLoughlin was 2-for-5 with one run and two RBIs. Simpson added one hit and two RBIs.

Menlo College senior pitcher Jason Diemer (Kirkland, WA/Seattle Prep) went the distance with an eight-hitter, allowing four earned runs and three walks. He struck out nine, including six looking.

Rutgers-Camden senior Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) took the loss, working six-plus innings and allowing six hits and five walks. He surrendered six runs, with only three being earned. He also struck out two.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action later today with a 5:30 p.m. (Eastern) game at Whittier College.

Pomona-Pitzer continues roll
with win over Rutgers-Camden

CLAREMONT, Calif. (March 16, 2008) – The Pomona-Pitzer baseball team collected 15 hits, including three apiece by senior designated hitter Scott Stroup (Richland, WA) and freshman left fielder Nick Frederick (Arlington, VA) as it defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 11-1, here Sunday afternoon at the California Classic.

The game was stopped after seven innings by a 10-run mercy rule.

Pomona-Pitzer, which improves to 14-3, has won 12 straight games. Rutgers-Camden falls to 4-6 with its fourth straight loss, with all of them coming at the California Classic.

Batting as the visiting team, the Sagehens took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when their second batter, junior center fielder Zachary Mandelblatt (Lake Oswego, OR), hit a home run to right field. They tacked on two more runs in the second on Stroup’s two-run double, and put the game away with a five-run fourth inning. That inning featured RBI doubles by Mandelblatt and sophomore shortstop James Kang (Huntington Beach, CA).

Kang, who added a two-run double in the fifth inning, finished the day 2-for-5 with three RBIs and one run scored. Stroup went 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, while Frederick was 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI. Mandelblatt went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
The Scarlet Raptors managed only five hits off Pomona-Pitzer junior Tom Church (New York, NY). Three of them were by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton), who went 3-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and one run scored. Park also had two putouts and six assists defensively.

The only other Raptor to hit safely was sophomore first baseman Dan Stuhlemmer (Collingswood, NJ/Camden Catholic), who went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Church, 2-1, finished his five-hitter with two walks and eight strikeouts. He allowed one earned run, which came in the seventh inning when Park singled, stole second and scored on a two-out double by Stuhlemmer.

Sophomore righty Jordan Cohen (Rockledge, PA/Abington), the first of three Raptor pitchers, took the loss. He worked four innings, allowing 12 hit and eight earned runs. Cohen, 1-1, didn’t walk a batter and fanned one.

The Scarlet Raptors, who went 0-4 at the California Classic, are idle until Thursday when they compete in the California Invitational. They have two games that day, facing Menlo College at 1 p.m. (Eastern) at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in Claremont and then traveling to Whittier College for a 5:30 p.m. (Eastern) game.

Rutgers-Camden nine drops
two games at California Classic

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 15, 2008) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team suffered a pair of heartbreaks at the California Classic Saturday.

Early in the day, in a game played at Whittier College in Whittier, Calif., the Scarlet Raptors watched Wesleyan (Conn.) University plate two runs in the top of the 10th inning to outlast Rutgers-Camden, 9-7. Later in the day, at Los Angeles’ Occidental College, the host Tigers rallied from a 3-1 deficit, aided by a six-run seventh inning, to defeat Rutgers-Camden, 10-3.

Both Wesleyan and Occidental collected 14 hits apiece as they handed the Raptors their third loss in two days on the West Coast. Rutgers-Camden falls to 4-5 overall.

Wesleyan senior designated hitter Chris Simpson (Concord, NH/St. Paul’s School) delivered a bases-loaded two-run single with no one out in the top of the 10th inning to break a 7-7 tie in the opener. He plated junior shortstop Drew Dominguez (Braintree, MA/Braintree) and freshman center fielder Joe Giaimo (Gillette, NJ/Watchung Hills), who had reached on a double and a hit batsman, respectively.

Wesleyan overcame a 7-3 Raptor lead, which was built behind the booming bat of sophomore first baseman Rick Fougeray (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional). Fougeray ripped a three-run home run in the third inning and a two-run single in the fourth to key a pair of three-run frames for the Scarlet Raptors. Fougeray went 2-for-6 with one run and five RBIs in the game.

Wesleyan (5-3) chipped away at the Raptor lead and tied the game at 7-7 in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Simpson, who went 2-for-5 with three RBIs in the game. Giaimo scored three runs, while Dominguez and senior first baseman Graham Douds (Modesto, CA/Thacher School) each added three hits for the Cardinals.

Rutgers-Camden nearly won the game in the bottom of the ninth when junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) sent Giaimo back to the wall in center to track down a fly ball with a pair of runners on base.

Sophomore third baseman Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) went 4-for-6 with two runs and two stolen bases for the Raptors. Sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) and sophomore left fielder Zach Colgate (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) each went 3-for-5, with Fruits scoring twice and adding one RBI.

In the game against Occidental, the Raptors took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run home run by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton). Occidental (7-12) bounced right back with three runs, sparked by a leadoff home run from sophomore second baseman Jason Jebbia (Pasadena, CA/Maranantha). Senior first baseman Adam Franks (Los Angeles, CA/Palisades) doubled home the tie-breaking run, giving the Tigers the lead for good at 4-3.

The Tigers put the game away with a six-run seventh inning, with five of the runs being unearned due to a costly error. Jebbia, who went 4-for-5 with three doubles and a home run, had an RBI double in the inning.

Fruits went 2-for-5 with a double to pace the Raptors, while Fougeray went 1-for-2 and walked three times. Park went 1-for-3 with his home run and added two walks.

Winning pitcher Brooks Belter (Lakeville, CT/Housatonic Valley Regional) worked 7-2/3 innings, allowing three runs, seven walks and five hits. He struck out 11.

Rutgers-Camden continues its play at the California Classic Sunday when it travels to Claremont, California, to battle Pomona-Pitzer at 2 p.m. (Eastern).

#12 Eastern Connecticut State
overpowers Rutgers-Camden

 CLAREMONT, Calif. (March 14, 2008) – Eastern Connecticut State University, ranked No. 12 nationally in the d3baseball.com Top 25 poll, flexed its muscles here Friday, collecting seven home runs and 22 hits as the Warriors defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 23-6, in the opening game of the Scarlet Raptors’ spring trip at the California Classic. The game was played at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges.

With its third straight win, Eastern improves to 3-1. Rutgers-Camden, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped, falls to 4-3.
The Warriors received two home runs apiece from senior center fielder Ismael Bolorin (Manchester, CT/Manchester), sophomore shortstop Melvin Castillo (Danbury, CT/Danbury) and junior designated hitter Shawn Gilblair (Windham, CT/Windham). Freshman first baseman Andrew Dewing (Swampscott, MA/Swampscott) also homered for ECSU.

The seven home runs tied the Raptors’ program record for most allowed in a game. They also allowed seven against Kean University (April 24, 1998) and Montclair State (April 13, 1997, Game One).

Rutgers-Camden hit two home runs of its own, including a round-tripper by sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) to lead off the game. Sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) followed with a single and scored on a double by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) to give the Scarlet Raptors a 2-0 lead. That lead held up until the bottom of the third, when Eastern Connecticut sent 14 men to the plate, ripped three home runs and exploded for nine runs. Gilblair and Dewing hit back-to-back homers in the frame, the first of two times in the game when Gilblair was involved in back-to-back homers. He also did it in the fifth inning, following a home run by Castillo.

For the game, Bolorin went 2-for-6 with three runs and six RBIs, while Castillo was 2-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs. Gilblair added a 2-for-4 day with two runs and three RBIs. Dewing went 3-for-3 with three runs and one RBI.

Rutgers-Camden collected 11 hits of its own in a game that featured 33 hits, 10 pitchers and nine home runs. Myers went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Park was 2-for-2 with one RBU and Fruits went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Sophomore third baseman Jamie Williams (Vineland, NJ/Delsea Regional) hit the Raptors’ other home run, a solo shot in the ninth inning. Williams entered the game in the fifth inning and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Rutgers-Camden continues its West Coast trip with two games Saturday. The Raptors face Wesleyan University of Middletown, Connecticut, in an 11:30 a.m. (Eastern) game at Whittier College. Later in the day, at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern), Rutgers-Camden plays a game at host Occidental College.

Ballay leads offensive explosion
as Rutgers-Camden tops John Jay

 CAMDEN (March 12, 2008) – Sophomore designated hitter Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran) went 3-for-5 with five RBIs to lead an 11-hit attack as the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team defeated John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 10-1, in a non-conference game Wednesday afternoon at Campbell’s Field.

The Scarlet Raptors improve to 4-2 overall with their third consecutive win. John Jay falls to 2-8, snapping a two-game winning streak.
Rutgers-Camden plated all the runs it needed in the first inning on three hits and three walks. Ballay had an RBI single in the frame, while junior third baseman Chris Kapsales (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) and senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) each collected an RBI on bases-loaded walks.

The Bloodhounds scored their lone run in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk to sophomore left fielder Anthony Cestaro (Paramus, NJ/Paramus).  That was all they managed against seven Raptor pitchers, who combined for a six-hitter as Rutgers-Camden tuned up its pitching staff for a spring break trip to California. The Scarlet Raptors, who hadn’t played since March 3 due to rainouts, open West Coast play Friday at 1 p.m. (Eastern) when they face national powerhouse Eastern Connecticut State University. The Warriors, currently ranked No. 12 in the d3baseball.com Top 25 poll, will face the Raptors at Claremont Mudd-Scripps Colleges.

The Raptors tacked on single runs in the second and third innings on RBI singles by sophomore right fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) and Ballay, respectively. Rutgers-Camden put the game away with a five-run fifth inning, sparked by a passed ball on a strikeout, allowing the leadoff batter to reach. Fruits had a sacrifice fly in the inning and Ballay capped the frame with a two-out, wind-blown single that cleared the bases, with Park scoring the final run hustling all the way from first base.

Fruits finished the day 2-for-4 with one run and two RBIs, while Park, sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) and sophomore first baseman Dan Stuhlemmer (Collingswood, NJ/Camden Catholic) each scored two runs. Myers also collected an assist by throwing out a runner at the plate following a fly to right.

Senior southpaw Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast), the starter in the Raptors’ pre-determined pitching plans on the day, worked two innings in his first outing of the season. Lihotz allowed two hits, one earned run and two walks, while striking out two.
Junior lefty Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) had an impressive two-inning stint, allowing no hits and just one walk, while striking out five.  Another lefty, sophomore Al Casanova (Haddon Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) allowed one hit and struck out two in his scoreless inning of work.

The Raptors also received scoreless frames from senior Angelo Marchiano (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West), junior James Diamond (Mt. Holly, NJ/Holy Cross), sophomore Michael Kondrath (Medford Lakes, NJ/Holy Cross) and Park, who closed out the game in the ninth inning, notching one strikeout.

Kondrath extended his scoreless string to 8.2 innings over five relief appearances to start the season.

Sunday games cancelled  
at Bob Williams Tournament

 CAMDEN (March 9, 2008) – The inaugural Bob Williams Memorial Tournament became a complete washout this weekend as stormy weather and unplayable field conditions cancelled the last remaining games scheduled for Campbell’s Field Sunday.

The soggy, frozen field forced cancellation of today’s scheduled contests between Albright College and Rowan University (11:30 a.m.) and Albright against Rutgers-Camden (3 p.m.). As of early Sunday morning, the only scheduled games remaining in the tournament were slated for Kean University, where the Cougars were trying to play a doubleheader, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Rutgers-Camden and Rowan never played one game in the tournament, with both teams getting rained out of scheduled action Friday and Saturday. Kean, which was rained out on Saturday as well, was the lone team to play on the first two days of the tourney. The Cougars defeated Albright, 6-0, in a six-inning rain-shortened game on Friday.

Rutgers-Camden, which hasn’t played since March 3, will resume action on Wednesday, March 12, when it entertains John Jay College of Criminal Justice at 3:30 p.m.

Bob Williams Memorial Tournament

Fri. 7       SUNY-Brockport at Rutgers-Camden, cancelled (rain)
                Franklin & Marshall College at Rowan University, ppd. to April 29, 3:30 p.m.
                Kean University 6, Albright College 0 (6 innings, rain)
Sat. 8      Franklin & Marshall College vs. Kean University (at Rutgers-Camden), cancelled (rain)
                SUNY-Brockport at Rowan University, cancelled (rain)
                Franklin & Marshall College at Rutgers-Camden, cancelled (rain)
Sun. 9     SUNY-Brockport at Kean University, doubleheader                                                     10:30 a.m.
                Albright College vs. Rowan University (at Rutgers-Camden), cancelled (field conditions)
                Albright College at Rutgers-Camden, cancelled (field conditions)

Rain washes out Saturday games
for Bob Williams Tournament

 CAMDEN (March 8, 2008) – Rainy weather washed out Saturday's games from the Bob Williams Memorial Tournament.

The rainout included two games involving Franklin & Marshall College, which was slated to play a split doubleheader at Campbell’s Field, facing Kean University at 11:30 a.m. and Rutgers-Camden at 3 p.m. Also rained out was Saturday's scheduled game at Rowan University, where SUNY-Brockport was supposed to play at 12 p.m.

The tournament concludes Sunday with two games in Camden and a revised schedule at Kean University, where the Cougars will now play a 10:30 a.m. doubleheader against SUNY-Brockport. In Camden, Rowan faces Albright College at 11:30 a.m. and Rutgers-Camden plays Albright at 3 p.m.

The only game played so far in the three-day event came Friday afternoon when Kean defeated Albright, 6-0, in a game shortened to six innings by rain.

Bob Williams Memorial Tournament

Fri. 7       SUNY-Brockport at Rutgers-Camden, cancelled (rain)
                Franklin & Marshall College at Rowan University, ppd. to April 29, 3:30 p.m.
                Kean University 6, Albright College 0 (6 innings, rain)
Sat. 8      Franklin & Marshall College vs. Kean University (at Rutgers-Camden), cancelled (rain)
                SUNY-Brockport at Rowan University, cancelled (rain)
                Franklin & Marshall College at Rutgers-Camden, cancelled (rain)
Sun. 9     SUNY-Brockport at Kean University (doubleheader)                                      10:30 a.m.
               Albright College vs. Rowan University (at Rutgers-Camden)                          11:30 a.m.
              Albright College at Rutgers-Camden                                                                  3 p.m.

Rain washes out two games
at Bob Williams Tournament

 CAMDEN (March 7, 2008) – Two of the three first-day games at the Bob Williams Memorial Tournament were rained out as the Rutgers University-Camden and Rowan University baseball teams saw games washed out by the weather.

Rutgers-Camden was supposed to play SUNY-Brockport in Camden. That game will not be rescheduled. Rowan was scheduled to host Franklin & Marshall. That game has been rescheduled for April 29 at 3:30 p.m. in Glassboro.

In the lone game played, Kean University defeated Albright College, 6-0, in a game shortened to six innings by rain.

The scheduled games on Saturday include a pair of contests at Campbell’s Field in Camden, with Franklin & Marshall playing Kean at 11:30 a.m. and facing Rutgers-Camden at 3 p.m. A 12 p.m. game at Rowan will feature the Profs against SUNY-Brockport.

The tournament concludes Sunday with two games in Camden and one at Kean University.

Bob Williams Memorial Tournament

Fri. 7       SUNY-Brockport at Rutgers-Camden, cancelled rain
                Franklin & Marshall College at Rowan University, ppd. to April 29, 3:30 p.m.
                Kean University 6, Albright College 0 (6 innings, rain)
Sat. 8      Franklin & Marshall College vs. Kean University (at Rutgers-Camden)                    11:30 a.m.
                SUNY-Brockport at Rowan University                                                                     12 p.m.
                Franklin & Marshall College at Rutgers-Camden                                                        3 p.m.
Sun. 9     Albright College vs. Rowan University (at Rutgers-Camden)                                     11:30 a.m.
               SUNY-Brockport at Kean University                                                                          12 p.m.
               Albright College at Rutgers-Camden                                                                             3 p.m.

Fruits, Park power Rutgers-Camden
to 12-5 victory over Haverford

CAMDEN (March 3, 2008) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team ripped out 13 hits, including three apiece by senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and sophomore center fielder Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI) as it defeated Haverford College, 12-5, in a non-conference game Monday afternoon at Campbell’s Field.

The game, which lasted 2:50, was called in the bottom of the eighth inning due to darkness.

The victory was the second straight for the Scarlet Raptors, who improve to 3-2. Haverford, playing its season opener, is 0-1.

The teams traded leads three times in the early innings, with both clubs scoring in the first inning and the Raptors adding a run in the third to take a 2-1 edge. Haverford tallied a pair of runs in the fourth on three hits, including RBI singles by senior designated hitter Jeff Lichtstein (Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) and junior center fielder Dean Laganosky (Wilmington, DE/Salesianum School).

That rally gave the Fords a 3-2 advantage, but the Scarlet Raptors took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. The inning was sparked by Park, who went 3-for-3 with four runs and one RBI on the day. He opened with a single to left and raced all the way to third base when the ball scooted past the Fords’ left fielder for a two-base error. Sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) walked and advanced to second on a short passed ball. One out later, Fruits had an infield single to plate Park. Fruits, playing in his first game after returning from an off-season injury, went 3-for-4 with four RBIs on the day.

Junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) singled to center field, scoring Hunt to give Rutgers-Camden the lead for good. The Raptors tacked on two runs in the fifth on a two-run single by Fruits. They put the game away in a four-run sixth inning, which featured four hits, including a two-run single by sophomore designated hitter Kyle Ballay (Delran, NJ/Delran). Parks and Fruits each added RBI singles in the frame.

Freshman Eric Bosworth (Westford, MA/Westford Academy), the second of three Raptor pitchers, collected his first collegiate win.
Bosworth, 1-1, worked 3-2/3 innings, allowing three hits, three walks and two earned runs. He struck out one.

In addition to their three hits apiece by Parks and Fruits, the Scarlet Raptors received a 2-for-5 game from Ballay, who scored once and added one RBI.

Sophomore third baseman Jamie Williams (Vineland, NJ/Delsea Regional) collected three RBIs, two of them coming on a two-out single in the sixth inning.

Hunt went 1-for-2 and scored three runs, while sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville) and sophomore first baseman Rick Fougeray (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) each scored a pair of runs.

Haverford received two hits apiece from Laganosky, senior third baseman Drew Wilcox (Lincoln, NE/Lincoln East) and sophomore second baseman Jeff Kaden (Potomac, MD/Landon School). Lichtstein scored two of the Fords’ five runs, while junior left fielder Evan Tibbetts (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) had a pair of RBIs on a seventh-inning single.

Haverford hosts Arcadia University Tuesday at 3 p.m. in its home opener.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Friday when they host one of the first-day games of the Bob Williams Memorial Tournament. Rutgers-Camden faces SUNY-Brockport at 3 p.m. Other first-day games, both at 3 p.m., include Franklin & Marshall College at Rowan University and Albright College at Kean University. The tournament will continue Saturday and Sunday, with two games each day at Campbell’s Field, a Saturday contest at Rowan University and a Sunday game at Kean University.

Rutgers-Camden’s Wright earns
NJAC Pitcher of the Week honor