Box Score

READING, Penn. (April 15, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team had a quick start to its non-conference game on a cold, raw day here Sunday. The Scarlet Raptors scored four runs in the top of the first inning, but their defense fell apart in the middle innings as the Lions roared back to capture an 8-4 victory.
 
Alvernia, which received five votes toward the ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Division III poll this week and has been ranked as high as No. 28 this season, improved to 22-9. Rutgers-Camden fell to 16-10 with its fourth straight loss.
 
The Scarlet Raptors jumped on Alvernia quickly, taking advantage of three hits, a hit batsman and an error to plate four runs in the first inning. After freshman center fielder Billy Eisler (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) opened the game with a single and junior second baseman Chris Jones (Washington Township, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) was hit by a pitch, they advanced on a sacrifice by freshman catcher R.J. Concepcion (Audubon, NJ/Audubon). Sophomore designated hitter Matt Yanick (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) plated the first run with a grounder to third, while reaching on an error. Senior right fielder Brandon Cornelius (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) and sophomore shortstop Nolan Gerold (Merchantville, NJ/Camden Catholic) singled home one run apiece and sophomore left fielder John Tedeschi (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) plated the final run with a bunt out.
 
That lead looked big, as the Scarlet Raptors received an outstanding start from freshman Joseph Sponheimer (Mantua, NJ/Clearview Regional), who was making his collegiate debut. Sponheimer allowed only two hits and four walks through his first scoreless innings, helping the Scarlet Raptors maintain their 4-0 lead into the fifth inning.
 
A dropped foul ball opened the Alvernia fifth inning, leading to a walk that was fouled by a single. Sponheimer's debut finished and he was relieved by senior Tommy Dolaghan (Harrison, NJ/High Tech), but the Scarlet Raptors' tough defensive inning continued. By the time it was over, Alvernia had two hits, the Raptors had three errors and Sponheimer was charged with two unearned runs. It was a 4-2 game and quickly got worse for the Scarlet Raptors.
 
A fifth-inning error contributed to three unearned runs off Dolaghan, eventually pinning him with a tough loss. Rutgers-Camden finished the day with five errors, leading to five unearned runs off Sponheimer (two runs in four innings) and Dolaghan (three runs in two innings).
 
Alvernia tacked on three eighth-inning runs on four hits.
 
Cornelius finished with a 2-for-3 day, scoring one run and driving home one, to lead the Raptors' six-hit attack. Yanick, pictured above, went 1-for-2 with one walk, one run and one RBI.
 
Rutgers-Camden plays a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game Tuesday at Widener University.