Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2017) – Junior centerfielder Brett Kuchera (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) collected four RBIs, including a two-run home run to help spark his team from a four-run deficit, and sophomore southpaw Steven Bloyed (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) hurled 5.1 stellar innings in long relief to earn the victory as the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team opened its season with a 7-5 win over Mitchell College here Friday. The game was part of the three-day Armstrong Invitational, hosted by Methodist University.
 
The Scarlet Raptors also received a 3-for-3 performance from freshman third baseman Matthew Stoots (Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton), playing in his first collegiate game, while senior leftfielder Doug Carter Jr. (Union, NJ/Union) went 4-for-5, including a solo home run, and scored three runs.
 
Mitchell, out of New London,  Connecticut, used two walks, a hit batsman and three hits to score four runs in the second inning off of Raptor senior starter Zach Welsher (Audubon, NJ/Audubon). The key hit in the inning came from sophomore catcher Markus Melendez (Storrs, CT/E.O. Smith), whose RBI triple was the start of a 3-for-4 day which included everything except a home run.
 
In the top of the third, the Scarlet Raptors cut their deficit in half after Carter Jr. reached on a one-out infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. After stealing third, he scored moments later when Kuchera unloaded a home run to left field. It was his second at bat with the Scarlet Raptors since transferring to the program after playing two seasons at Camden County College.
 
Bloyed entered the game with two runners on base and nobody out in the fourth inning and proceeded to work 5.1 innings, allowing four hits, one walk and one unearned run, while striking out five. In the meantime, the Scarlet Raptors' offense  put him in line for his second career victory when Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning. With one out, sophomore second baseman Chris Jones (Sewell, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) singled and Carter Jr. reached on a fielding error. The Raptors loaded the bases when senior first baseman Frank Cerami IV (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) was hit by a pitch and Kuchera ripped a two-run double to center field, tying the score. He finished the game going 2-for-4 with one run and four RBIs.
 
Senior outfielder Brandon Cornelius (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek), who missed all of last season with injuries after being sidelined most of 2015 as well, capped the frame. He delivered a sacrifice fly to left field, plating Cerami IV with the go-ahead run.
 
Rutgers-Camden tacked on another run in the top of the eighth when freshman shortstop Nolan Gerold (Merchantville, NJ/Camden Catholic) doubled for his first collegiate hit. He scored when Stoots singled for his first collegiate RBI.
 
After Mitchell notched an unearned run off Bloyed in the bottom of the eighth, Carter Jr. restored the Raptors' two-run lead with a two-out solo home run in the top of the ninth. It was the fourth collegiate home run for Carter, who led the club in hitting last season with a .377 average. The four hits, meanwhile, hiked his career total to 85 as he approaches the 100-hit milestone.
 
After Bloyed retired the first Mariner batter on strikes in the bottom of the ninth, junior Carter Fichter (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) finished the game to earn his second collegiate save. Fichter allowed a double to his first batter before striking out the next two hitters.
 
The Raptors face Elmira College Saturday at 4 p.m. as the Armstrong Invitational continues. They will play host Methodist University Sunday at 12 p.m.