CLAREMONT, Calif. (March 12, 2016) - The Rutgers University-Newark baseball team split a doubleheader at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Saturday at Arce Field in Claremont, Calif.

R-N held an early lead in the opener and came back late to tie, but ultimately fell short, 7-6, bouncing back to take game two, 8-5.

Rutgers-Newark now is 3-4 on the young season, while Claremont moves to 4-12.

The Scarlet Raiders will continue their Spring Break Trip in California on Sunday when they visit Chapman University. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. (PST) in Orange.

Game 1 - CMS 7, Rutgers-Newark 6
The Scarlet Raiders battled back with two runs in the ninth inning to tie the score at six, but CMS received a single from sophomore Chase Eller with two on and two out in the ninth to lift the Stags to their fourth win of the season.

The Scarlet Raiders totaled 10 hits in the game, getting four RBI from senior center fielder Ryan MacFarlane (2-for-4), and two hits apiece from sophomore catcher Justin Marks (2-for-3, BB) and sophomore third baseman Brian Boulineau (2-for-3, RBI). Senior shortstop Gerry Patrizio went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks and two stolen bases.

Freshman Anthony Rosoline started for Newark and went 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits. Sophomore Anthony Perconte relieved Rosoline in the fifth and went 1.2 scoreless innings, and sophomore Dan Murphy surrendered one run in two innings of relief. Senior Billy Taylor - who started the game in right field - suffered the loss, allowing three hits and a run.

Freshman Nick DeGallier started and went six for CMS, with sophomore John O'Malley going the final two to earn the win. The Stag offense was led by senior shortstop Jack Witte who was 2-for-3 with two runs, two walks and two RBI.

Taylor led off the game with a walk and promptly stole second, and runners were on first and third with nobody out after a single from Patrizio. MacFarlane was next, cashing in Patrizio and Taylor to stake R-N to a 2-0 lead with a double.

Freshman designated hitter Ross Halkias scored the Newark run in the second inning after CMS trimmed the lead to one (2-1) with one in the bottom of the first. Halkias doubled to start it, and after advancing to third on a balk, sophomore third baseman Brian Boulineau delivered a sacrifice fly.

Rosoline worked around a pair of runners in the second and third, but the Stags took the lead with four-straight hits - three for extra bases - to start the fifth inning, ending the frame with a 5-3 margin.

MacFarlane picked up his third RBI of the game with a run-scoring single after Patrizio had walked and stole second base, but the Stags plated a run on three knocks in the bottom half to go up two (6-4).

Boulineau singled to start the ninth inning, bringing up the tying run, and following an out, Taylor drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Patrizio pocketed an infield single, and a run crossed on a throwing error, before MacFarlane tied the game at six with a clutch sacrifice fly.

Game 2 - Rutgers-Newark 8, CMS 5
A double from junior left fielder Josh Cote brought home MacFarlane for the game's first run in the top half of the third inning, and the Scarlet Raiders never trailed in earning the doubleheader split.

Sophomore starter Mike Zibrin allowed just one hit in his first three innings of work, and after putting the side down in order in the fourth, he worked around trouble in the fifth inducing a pop up with two on and two out.

Zibrin (1-1) went seven innings, allowing one earned run on three hits to pick up his first win of the season and the second of his career. Junior Vincent Enea and Boulineau each threw an inning in relief of Zibrin.

The Scarlet Raiders created separation in the seventh, scoring four runs to open a 5-0 lead for Zibrin. The inning started with a walk and single from Taylor and Patrizio to set the table, and a single from MacFarlane loaded the bases with nobody out. Dias walked to bring home one, Marks delivered a run-scoring base hit for runs two and three, and an infield single from sophomore right fielder Danny Iannaccone made it 4-0. The fourth and final marker of the inning came on an RBI groundout from Boulineau.

A walk and two errors opened the door for two runs to score in the bottom of the seventh to trim the Rutgers-Newark lead to three at 5-2.

Taylor led off the eighth with a walk and stole two bags, and with one out, MacFarlane walked and stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Dias walked, and Marks came up key again, this time ripping a two-run double, with a Cote sac fly making it an 8-2 game.

Two Stag runs scored in the eighth and one more in the ninth, but it was too little too late as the Scarlet Raiders picked up the victory.

Marks and MacFarlane led the offense. Marks was 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored, and MacFarlane went 3-for-5 with two runs. Cote had two hits and two RBI, and Taylor finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

NOTES:
- R-N went 3-for-5 with the bases loaded in the second game and 4-for-9 putting the lead off man on base.
- Taylor had four steals in the doubleheader.
- Marks and MacFarlane each had four hits in the doubleheader.
- Rutgers-Newark had nine stolen bases in the two games, compared to just one for CMS. Marks threw out one runner attempting to steal on him in the first game.