CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (April 5, 2016) – Despite tying the game with three runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Rutgers University-Newark baseball team was defeated 14-6 at DeSales University in a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon at a cold Butz Field.
 
DeSales improves to 11-9 on the season, while the Scarlet Raiders fall to 8-14. Rutgers-Newark will return to action looking for its first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) victory of the season Thursday against rival New Jersey City University at Riverfront Stadium.
 
The Scarlet Raiders had six hits, five RBI and four walks in the game. Sophomore catcher Justin Marks went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and senior shortstop Gerry Patrizio went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and a walk. Senior center fielder Ryan MacFarlane went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, and sophomore first baseman Ross Halkias drove in a pair of runs (1-for-4).
 
After the Scarlet Raiders tied the game at five with a three-run rally in the sixth, the hosts took the lead with a single tally in the seventh and broke it open with eight runs in the eighth. DeSales tallied the eight markers on four hits, four walks a hit batter and two Scarlet Raider errors.
 
Rutgers-Newark would take a 2-1 lead with a pair in the fourth as Patrizio walked and promptly stole second, coming around to score on a bunt single from MacFarlane and a Bulldog error. The second run of the inning (MacFarlane) crossed on a Halkias groundout.
 
The lead was short-lived as DeSales scored three times on three hits in the fourth and once more in the fifth to take a 5-2 edge, but a resilient Raider squad came back to tie. Patrizio set the table with a single and his second steal, scoring on a Marks single through the right side. MacFarlane, who walked after Patrizio, came in on a Halkias base hit, and a fielder's choice groundout from junior Josh Coteplated sophomore left fielder Anthony Perconte who had walked behind MacFarlane.
 
DeSales shortstop Preston Amato went 2-for-5 with a double and four RBI as the Bulldogs had 12 hits in the contest. Second baseman Tommy Sweeney went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored and Alec Hardy was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
 
Junior Tyler Cooperman earned the win in relief, going four innings and allowing a run on three hits. Five Scarlet Raiders tossed in the contest with the group being led by two innings of one-run ball from sophomore Dan Murphy.
 
Live stats will be available for Thursday's game against NJCU by clicking here or visiting www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com on gameday.