Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CAMDEN, N.J. (April 28, 2018) – With the end of the line coming for both the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season and the history of Campbell's Field, the Rutgers University-Camden and New Jersey City University baseball teams split their final NJAC doubleheader of the season here Saturday.
 
Rutgers-Camden won the opener, 9-2, and NJCU bounced back for an 8-2 victory in the nightcap.
 
The split leaves the Scarlet Raptors at 23-13 overall and 11-6 in the conference heading into Sunday's final regular-season game, a makeup contest at Kean University, beginning at 12 p.m. The Scarlet Raptors enter the day tied with Rowan for third place in the NJAC and need to finish no worse than tied in the final regular-season standings to earn a home NJAC playoff game Tuesday. If they lose and the Profs win on Sunday, the Raptors will be on the road Tuesday, making Saturday's second game against NJCU the final collegiate game played at Campbell's Field. The award-winning ballpark (pictured above) is scheduled to be torn down this summer.
 
The split leaves NJCU with a 19-17 record overall and a 6-11 NJAC mark, heading into its final game Sunday, when it hosts Rowan. The 19 wins tie the Gothic Knights' single-season mark accomplished in 1986, 1995 and 2005.
 
The doubleheader also served as Senior Day as Rutgers-Camden honored its four departing players, right fielder Brandon Cornelius (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) and pitchers Carter Fichter (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial), Tommy Dolaghan (Harrison, NJ/High Tech) and Peter Han (Millburn, NJ/Millburn).
   
Junior Steven Bloyed (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) hurled seven innings of shutout ball, walking two and striking out nine for the Scarlet Raptors. This time, Rutgers-Camden's offense gave him some run support as he raised his record to 3-2. In his previous two starts, both losses, he had allowed only three runs – two earned – in 13 innings, but had received only one run of support.
 

Bloyed had more support than that in the second inning alone as the Scarlet Raptors struck for three hits with two outs to produce two runs. Sophomore shortstop Nolan Gerold (Merchantville, NJ/Camden Catholic) had a bunt single and sophomore designated hitter Matt Yanick (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) singled through the right side of the infield. Sophomore third baseman Matthew Stoots (Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton) followed with a booming two-run double to center.
 
The Raptors put the game away with a five-run fourth inning, sparked by a leadoff double from Cornelius. Junior second baseman Chris Jones (Washington Township, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) followed with a bunt single and Gerold reached on an infield error, plating Cornelius. After a sacrifice by Yanick, Stoots was walked intentionally to load the bases. One out later, freshman center fielder Billy Eisler (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) was hit by a pitch to force home one run. Sophomore catcher Tyler Travis (Berlin, NJ/Eastern Regional) drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Gerold and two more runs scored when freshman first baseman R.J. Concepcion (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) reached on an infield throwing error.
 
The Raptors' final runs came in the fifth on a single by Jones, a RBI triple by Gerold and a run-scoring single by Yanick.
 
Dolaghan followed Bloyed to the mound and pitched a perfect eighth inning. NJCU finally scored a pair of unearned runs in the ninth off freshman Mike Thompson (Williamstown, NJ/Paul VI).
 
Rutgers-Camden's 10-hit attack was paced by Jones, Gerold, Yanick and Stoots, with two hits apiece. Gerold and Stoots both had two RBIs and Gerold scored three runs.
   
NJCU senior southpaw Kyle Kafer shut down the Scarlet Raptors attack, scattering nine hits and striking out six. Kafer (4-3) didn't walk a batter in his complete game, allowing only a run in the first and ninth innings. The Raptors' first-inning run came after a leadoff single by Eisler, a double by Concepcion and a RBI ground out by Cornelius.
 
NJCU matched that run in the second inning with an unearned run off Raptor junior starter Drew Zytko (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) and took the lead for good with a pair of fifth-inning runs. Junior center fielder Jesse Kraft opened the fifth with a triple and scored one out later when freshman shortstop Ryan Guthrie hit a high chopper that bounded way over Stoots' head at third base and into left field for a RBI single. Guthrie later scored on a throwing error.
 
The Gothic Knights tacked on four runs in the ninth before Stoots doubled home the Raptors' last run in the bottom of the ninth.
 
NJCU collected 12 hits – six apiece off Zytko and junior Vincent Sturtevant (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) – in its victory. Junior third baseman Nick LoGatto went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI to lead the attack.
 
Travis and Yanick had two hits apiece for the Scarlet Raptors.