Box Score 1 | Box Score 2


AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 11, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team proved it can win the blowouts as well as the pitching duels as it opened its trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with a pair of impressive wins here Sunday.
 
With an impressive slugging performance in the opener, Rutgers-Camden defeated Olivet College (Olivet, Mich.), 16-3, in a game called after seven innings. Junior Ian Scheidemann (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) allowed only one earned run in his complete-game performance. In the nightcap, the Scarlet Raptors got a shutout from senior Carter Fichter (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) in a 2-0 win over Ripon College (Ripon, Wisconsin).
 
The Scarlet Raptors have won four straight games since a season-opening loss. They return to action Monday at the RussMatt Invitational, facing Beloit College at 9:15 a.m.
   
Rutgers-Camden pounded out 16 hits to back the complete-game pitching of Scheidemann. Leading 4-0, the Scarlet Raptors blew open the game with an eight-run third inning, aided by seven hits, a walk and two errors, including a huge two-out error that led to seven unearned runs.
 
Scheidemann scattered nine hits, struck out four and didn't walk a batter to earn his first decision of the season. He allowed only one earned run in the sixth before the Comets scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Rutgers-Camden loaded the bases in the first inning on singles by freshman first baseman R.J. Concepcion (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) and sophomore catcher Tyler Travis (Berlin, NJ/Eastern Regional), ahead of sophomore designated hitter Matt Yanick (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) reaching as a hit batsman. With two outs, sophomore third baseman Matthew Stoots (Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton) cleared the bases with a double.
 
After adding a second-inning run on an RBI single by Travis, the Scarlet Raptors exploded for an eight-run third inning, which included a pair of singles by junior second baseman Chris Jones (Washington Township, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep). Jones and Stoots sandwiched singles around a fly out to open the frame. Senior right fielder Brandon Cornelius (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) followed with a RBI single. One out later, freshman center fielder Billy Eisler (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) reached on an infield error to load the bases and turn a one-run inning into a nightmare for Olivet (1-5). Concepcion followed with a two-run single and Travis walked. A wild pitch and a throwing error by the Comets' pitcher plated both Eisler and Concepcion. Jones and Yanick added with RBI singles to cap the frame.
 
Rutgers-Camden added another run in the fourth with Cornelius drawing a leadoff walk and eventually scoring on a double play. The Scarlet Raptors capped their big offensive performance with a three-run seventh, highlighted by a two-run double from sophomore shortstop Nolan Gerold (Merchantville, NJ/Camden Catholic).
 
For the game, Jones went 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs, while Stoots was 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs. Travis, Concepcion, Eisler and sophomore left fielder John Tedeschi (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) all added two hits. Tedeschi scored three runs, while Concepcion, Travis and Eisler all scored twice.
   
Fichter was in control as he limited the Red Hawks to six hits. He walked three and struck out eight as he raised his record to 2-0 and lowered his season ERA to 0.56 over 16 innings.
 
Fichter helped his own cause by picking three runners off first base and one off of second base. The Scarlet Raptors also picked off another runner at second base on a throw by catcher Travis.
 
Fichter worked out of jams in two of the last three innings to preserve his shutout. In the seventh, the Red Hawks placed runners at second and third with one out before a pop up to Fichter at the mound and a fly to left field ended the threat. In the ninth, Ripon loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one out. Fichter ended the game in style with a pair of swinging strikeouts.
 
In a game with few scoring opportunities, Cornelius provided all the offensive support that Fichter needed. With two outs in the fourth inning, Eisler reached on an error by Ripon's losing pitcher, Austin Fox (Oshkosh, WI/West). Cornelius followed with a two-run home run to left field for the Raptors' first round-tripper of the season. Cornelius, pictured above, finished the game 2-for-3 with his two RBIs and one run scored.
 
Jones also went 2-for-3 for the Scarlet Raptors, who collected eight hits off a trio of Ripon pitchers.