Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 26, 2017) – After the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team fought back from a five-run deficit to tie the game here Sunday, Methodist University answered with three runs over the next two innings. The host team went on to post an 8-6 victory over the Scarlet Raptors on the final day of the Armstrong Invitational.
 
Methodist improves to 7-5, while Rutgers-Camden ends its three-day season-opening trip with a 1-2 record. The Scarlet Raptors will open their home season Sunday, March 5, with a 2 p.m. game against York College of Pennsylvania.
 
The Monarchs took advantage of six hits and four walks to produce five runs over the third and fourth innings, grabbing an early 5-0 lead. Rutgers-Camden, however, got all of those runs back in the top of the fifth with a six-hit inning, sparked by a leadoff single from senior first baseman Frank Cerami IV (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley). After Cerami advanced on a wild pitch and a ground out, the Scarlet Raptors plated a run on a single by senior designated hitter Brandon Cornelius (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek). Senior rightfielder Zach Ellin (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) kept the line moving with a single up the middle and senior catcher Jon Theckston (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) singled home Cornelius. Sophomore second baseman Chris Jones (Sewell, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) singled to load the bases, setting the stage for a two-run double by senior leftfielder Doug Carter Jr. (Union, NJ/Union). The Raptors tied the game on an RBI ground out by junior centerfielder Brett Kuchera (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood).
 
Methodist took the lead back for good with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a single by freshman third baseman Tucker Criswell (Tallahassee, FL/Lawton Chiles), a walk, a wild pitch and an RBI fielder's choice. The Monarchs plated two more runs in the sixth on a hit batsman, two hits and a double steal. Criswell had a two-run single in the frame.
 
Rutgers-Camden had four hits in the ninth inning, including an RBI single by Jones, and had the bases loaded with two outs before the game ended with a force at second.
 
Sophomore second baseman Brennan Brown (Camden, DE/Caesar Rodney) and freshman first baseman Alex Kachler (Lithia, FL/Strawberry Crest) both went 3-for-5 to power the Monarchs' 13-hit attack. He allowed six hits, one walk and one earned run, while striking out one.
 
Scarlet Raptor junior Peter Han (Millburn, NJ/Millburn) took the loss in relief in his first appearance at Rutgers-Camden. A transfer from Middlesex County College, he allowed four earned runs on five hits and four walks in 2.2 innings after freshman Gianni D'Antonio (Sicklerville, NJ/Hammonton) made his first collegiate start. D'Antonio worked three innings, allowing seven hits, four walks and four earned runs. Junior Carter Fichter (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) worked the final 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out two
 
Rutgers-Camden collected 15 hits, led by a 3-for-4 performance from Cornelius, who scored two runs and drove home one. Ellin, Theckston, Jones, Carter and Cerami each added two hits.