Box Score

CHESTER, Penn. – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team was down to its last three outs, but the Scarlet Raptors certainly weren't finished in their non-conference game at Widener University here Tuesday.
 
The Scarlet Raptors rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning and went on to stun the Pride, 6-4, to raise their record to 10-9. Rutgers-Camden has won eight of its last nine games.
 
Widener (9-10), which received votes early in the season to both the ABCA and the D3baseball.com national polls, is the 14th team the Scarlet Raptors have played so far this season to be ranked, or receive votes toward, at least one of the Division III polls. The Scarlet Raptors, whose rugged schedule includes five of the top seven teams in this week's D3baseball.com poll and five of the top nine in the current ABCA rankings, is now 7-7 in those 14 games.
 
Trailing, 4-3, junior third baseman Brett Tenuto (Audubon, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) opened the ninth inning with a single to right-center and advanced on a bunt single by sophomore catcher Jon Theckston (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester Catholic). Junior second baseman Matthew McElhatton (Haddon Heights, NJ/Camden Catholic) moved up the runners with a sacrifice and junior designated hitter Joe Sigismondi (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) singled in the tying and go-ahead runs. Sigismondi advanced on an outfield throwing error, moved up on a ground out and scored on a passed ball.
 
Senior southpaw Jeff Singer (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross), who on Monday was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, entered the game in the ninth to close it out for freshman Allan Smith (Shamong, NJ/Seneca), who picked up his first collegiate win in relief. Singer allowed one hit and struck out two to collect his first save as a Raptor.
 
Smith (1-0) worked two scoreless innings of one-hit ball, walking one and striking out two, in relief of Raptor starter Chris Scarlett (Galloway, NJ/Holy Spirit). The junior southpaw allowed four runs (two earned) in six innings, surrendering six hits and three walks, while striking out four.
 
All four Widener runs came in the first inning, sparked by a leadoff infield single by sophomore third baseman Michael Elfreth (Washington Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep). Senior second baseman Michael Rytelewski (Brick, NJ/Ocean County CC) followed with a single and an infield error plated Elfreth with no outs. Senior left fielder Matt Scherer (Havertown, PA/Haverford) doubled home a second run and a hit batsman loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly and a ground out produced two more runs.
 
Rutgers-Camden was held scoreless until the fifth inning, when senior center fielder Bobby Romano (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a bunt single by Tenuto. Following a sacrifice bunt by Theckston, McElhatton plated the run with a ground out.
 
The Scarlet Raptors cut the gap to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the seventh inning. sparked by Romano's leadoff double. Tenuto reached on a fielder's choice and Romano was safe at third on a throwing error, and both scored on a double down the left field line by Theckston.
 
Tenuto and Theckston had two hits apiece for the Raptors, who return to action Thursday with a 3:30 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference game at Stockton University. The Scarlet Raptors return home Friday when they host Stockton in the back end of their home-and-home series.