WAYNE, N.J. (March 30, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team came close to sweeping its first New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader of the season here Saturday, but in the end, host William Paterson University pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning of the nightcap as the two teams split on the NJAC's opening day.
 
Rutgers-Camden won the opener, 6-3, behind a complete game from senior Ian Scheidemann and a three-RBI game from freshman center fielder Brett Yurgin.
 
Yurgin added three more RBIs in the nightcap as the Raptors rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to send the game into extra innings, but the Pioneers plated the winning run in the 10th on a sacrifice fly by Shane Adams to post a 6-5 win.
 
The split leaves Rutgers-Camden at 8-10 overall, while William Paterson is 14-5. Both teams are 1-1 in NJAC play.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Sunday with a 12 p.m. non-conference makeup game at Neumann University.
   
Scheidemann hurled his second complete game of the season to raise his record to 4-0 and the Scarlet Raptors took the lead for good with a four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run double from Yurgin.
 
After Paterson scored a first-inning run on two hits and a fielder's choice, the Scarlet Raptors took the lead with a two-run fourth inning. Singles by junior designated hitter Matt Yanick and junior third baseman Matthew Stoots, sandwiched around an out, set the stage for a RBI double from junior second baseman John Guccione. Sophomore shortstop Mike Paciocco followed with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Pioneers regained the lead with a two-run fifth, using three hits and an error to grab a 3-2 advantage, but the Scarlet Raptors didn't wait long to take the lead for good. A single by Yanick and a one-out walk to Stoots set the table in the sixth. One out later, Paciocco walked to load the bases and Yurgin cleared the bags with a double to left center. Junior catcher Tyler Travis followed with a single and advanced all the way to third base as an error in left field plated Yurgin.
 
Yanick went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Travis was 2-for-5. Yurgin went 1-for-5 with one run and three big RBIs.
 
Scheidemann scattered nine hits in his complete game, while allowing three earned runs. He walked one and fanned five.
   
The Pioneers took an early 4-0 lead with two runs apiece in the second and third innings, forcing Rutgers-Camden to claw its way back into the game. Yurgin got the team going in the top of the fifth inning with a one-out solo home run and the Raptors cut their deficit to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-run Yurgin double.
 
After Paterson made it a 5-3 game with a run in the bottom of the sixth, Rutgers-Camden answered in the seventh on a rally started by a leadoff single from sophomore left fielder R.J. Concepcion. He scored on a double play ball.
 
The Raptors tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the ninth, sparked when Concepcion reached on an error. He eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore right fielder Billy Eisler.
 
After fighting back to tie the game, however, the Raptors watched the Pioneers plate a run in the bottom of the 10th, sparked by a leadoff infield single from pinch-hitter Vin Dorio. He advanced on a throwing error and, after a pair of intentional walks sandwiched around a sacrifice, Adams delivered his game-winning sacrifice fly to right field.
 
The Raptors received an outstanding relief outing from junior Daniel Beebe, who ended up being saddled with the loss despite hurling 4-1/3 innings of two-hit ball. He walked two, both intentional, and struck out four.
 
For the day, Concepcion went 4-for-10, while Yanick, Guccione and Yurgin each added three hits. Yurgin finished with six RBIs.