AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 21, 2019) – With numerous early-season weather cancellations for both the Rutgers University-Camden and Benedictine University baseball teams, the two teams decided to play a doubleheader here Thursday at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
While the pitchers for both teams had a field day, the offenses didn't fare as well. Rutgers-Camden won the opener, 1-0, behind a four-hit shutout from senior Ian Scheidemann. In the nightcap, the Eagles turned the tables to pin a tough 2-1 loss on Raptor senior Steven Bloyed.
 
Rutgers-Camden owns a 4-6 record, while Benedictine (Lisle, Illinois) stands at 6-5.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to RussMatt action with another doubleheader Friday. They face Westminster College (Fulton, Missouri) at 9:45 a.m.
   
Scheidemann had to be at the top of his game to out-duel the Benedictine duo of James Wright and Drake Berman. The Scarlet Raptors' senior All-American was up to the challenge as he hurled a four-hit shutout, striking out 11 without walking any batters.
 
Scheidemann hurled the third shutout and ninth complete game of his three-year Scarlet Raptor career. He raised his Rutgers-Camden season record to 2-0 and his career mark to 14-4. His third shutout tied the program's career record, accomplished by three previous pitchers.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored the only run it needed in the top of the third inning, sparked by back-to-back singles from sophomore shortstop Mike Paciocco and freshman center fielder Brett Yurgin. Junior catcher Tyler Travis advanced the runners with a sacrifice and sophomore left fielder R.J. Concepcion walked to load the base. Senior second baseman Chris Jones plated the run with a fielder's choice.
 
Rutgers-Camden collected only five hits off the combination of Wright (six innings, four hits, one earned run) and Berman (three shutout innings, one hit), who combined for nine strikeouts. Nobody in the game had more than one hit.
   
The Scarlet Raptors received more stellar pitching in the nightcap as Bloyed, junior Daniel Beebe and freshman Colin Carr combined on a three-hitter with 16 strikeouts. Unfortunately for Rutgers-Camden, the Raptors collected only two hits off a trio of pitchers for the Eagles and didn't get a hit off starter Ryan Miller until junior shortstop Tyler Travis singled to lead off the seventh inning.
 
Benedictine scored single runs in the second and third innings against Bloyed, who worked 6-2/3 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs and three walks. Bloyed (1-2) struck out 11. In both innings, the biggest nuisance for the Raptors was Eagles third baseman Cameron Falk. Falk had a leadoff single in the second, moved to third when a pair of walks loaded the bases, and scored on a fielder's choice by second baseman Kyle Mitter. In the third, a triple by catcher Nicholas Quick set up a two-out RBI single by Falk, the lone player in the game with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
 
Camden scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth after sophomore right fielder Billy Eisler reached on a leadoff error. He advanced to second on a single by Yurgin – only the second, and last, hit of the day for the Raptors. Travis sacrificed both runners into scoring position. With two outs, Jones struck out swinging, but reached on an error by the Eagles' catcher while Eisler scored. Reliever Marty Maves retired the last Raptor on a fly out to end the game.
 
In addition to Bloyed, Rutgers-Camden received stellar pitching from Beebe and Carr, who both hurled hitless shutout ball without walking a batter. Beebe worked 1-1/3 scoreless innings, striking out two. Carr had a strong ninth inning, striking out all three batters he faced, with the last two looking.