Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CAMDEN, N.J. – Entering its New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader here Saturday afternoon, the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team had a slim lead at the top of the NJAC standings with several teams nipping at its heels.
 
The Scarlet Raptors put some distance between themselves and one of those clubs as they swept past Ramapo College, 6-3 and 4-2, in a NJAC doubleheader at Campbell's Field.
 
Senior center fielder Bobby Romano (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) tied a single-game program record with two triples in the opening game and sophomore left fielder Joe Brooks (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) ripped a big two-run game-tying home run in the Raptors' second-game rally as Rutgers-Camden raised its record to 13-9 overall and 8-1 in the NJAC. The Scarlet Raptors hold a half-game lead over Kean University (8-2 in the NJAC) and a game lead over Rowan University (7-2).
 
Brooks and junior second baseman Matthew McElhatton (Haddon Heights, NJ/Camden Catholic) both collected three hits in the doubleheader for the Raptors, who went 4-1 during the week, including 3-1 in conference play. Rutgers-Camden has won four straight games.
 
Ramapo, which entered the day only a half-game back of the Raptors in the NJAC race, fell to 17-10 overall and 6-4 in the NJAC.
 
Rutgers-Camden plays a 3:30 p.m. NJAC makeup game at Stockton University Monday. Ramapo hosts Centenary College Tuesday in a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game.
 The Scarlet Raptors broke open a scoreless ballgame with four runs in the fourth inning, which started with an error, a sacrifice, a single by Brooks and a RBI double by senior first baseman Connor Hall (Delran, NJ/Delran). Romano followed with a two-run triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Brett Tenuto (Audubon, NJ/Gloucester Catholic).
 
Romano added another triple in the sixth inning to become the 16th player in program history to hit two in a game, and the first since Jon Siswo did it against Montclair State in the second game of a doubleheader March 31, 2012.
 
The Raptors' 10-hit attack featured two apiece from Brooks, Romano and McElhatton.
 
On the mound, junior Ryan Sullivan (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) worked 6.1 innings, allowing five hits, four walks and three earned runs. He struck out two in raising his record to 2-2.
 
Freshman Carter Fichter (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) entered the game in the seventh inning, moments after Ramapo junior second baseman Joe Venturino (Barnegat Light, NJ/Monsignor Farrell) ripped a three-run double, making it a 5-3 game at the time. Fichter stranded Venturino at third with a pair of ground outs and hurled shutout, hitless ball the rest of the way for his first collegiate save. He hit one batter and struck out two in 2.2 innings.
 Ramapo scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings of the nightcap to take a 2-0 lead before the Raptors rallied.
 
Junior designated hitter Joe Sigismondi (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a single to right, only the Raptors' second hit of the game at that point off of Roadrunner sophomore Brian Cottrell (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial). One out later, Brooks crushed a long home run over the Cooper Health sign beyond the right field fence. His first home run of the season tied the game at 2-2.
 
Rutgers-Camden tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh against reliever Mark Doyle (Howell, NJ/Howell), sparked by a leadoff walk to Tenuto. Sophomore Jon Theckston (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) followed with a pinch-hit single to extend his hitting streak to seven games, the longest current streak on the team. McElhatton loaded the bases with an infield single off reliever Walker Larson (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah). Sophomore right fielder Zach Ellin (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) followed by hitting into a double play, while Tenuto scored the eventual winning run. Theckston added an insurance run on an infield throwing error on a grounder by Sigismondi.
 
Junior Billy Jackson (Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Regional) worked eight innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs and one walk to pick up the win. Jackson (3-1) struck out four.
 
Junior Kyle Gaff (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City) earned his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth, with only one Roadrunner reaching on an infield error.