ASTON, Penn. (March 9, 2020) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team received plenty of gifts during the first two innings of its non-conference game at Neumann University Monday.
 
The Scarlet Raptors used those gifts to plate six quick unearned runs and rode the outstanding pitching of senior Mike Calabrese to a 12-4 win over the Knights.
 
Rutgers-Camden improved to 5-1 with its fifth straight win, while Neumann fell to 4-5.
 
The Knights made two errors in each of the first two innings as Rutgers-Camden took a quick 6-0 lead. The Raptors notched three unearned runs in both of those frames against tough-luck losing pitcher Nick Glebocki.
 
Rutgers-Camden opened the game when junior center fielder Billy Eisler reached on an infield error. Infield singles by sophomore third baseman Jesse Gerdes and sophomore designated hitter Brett Yurgin loaded the bases. One out later, senior first baseman Matt Yanick delivered a sacrifice fly. Another infield error reloaded the bases before senior catcher Thomas Gosse ripped a two-run double down the right field line.
 
In the second inning, both senior second baseman John Guccione and freshman shortstop Danny Vazquez reached on errors to open the frame, with Vazquez reaching safely after a sacrifice bunt. A bunt single by Eisler loaded the bases. One out later, Yurgin singled home two runs, his second hit in a terrific 4-for-5, two-double day that included two RBIs and three runs scored. Junior left fielder R.J. Concepcion plated another run with a ground out.
 
While the Scarlet Raptors were piling up runs, Calabrese was shutting down the Knights until the third, when a pair of walks and Neumann's first hit – an RBI single by junior catcher Zach Ray – put the home team on the scoreboard.
 
Rutgers-Camden added six more runs over the final three innings, beginning with two in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Concepcion and an RBI single by Yanick. In the eighth, Gosse walked and scored on a double by Vazquez. The Raptors' three-run ninth started with back-to-back doubles by Yurgin and Concepcion. It was capped by a two-run home run from pinch-hitter Jack Murphy, a shot to left field that gave the freshman his first collegiate hit, run scored, home run and RBIs.
 
Calabrese (2-0) worked seven innings of four-hit ball, allowing two earned runs and two walks, while striking out five. Sophomore Stephen Brady and freshman Dylan Wichrowski closed out the game, pitching one inning apiece.
 
While Yurgin led the Raptors' 13-hit attack with four hits, Gerdes went 2-for-5. Concepcion finished with three RBIs, while Yanick, Gosse and Murphy had two apiece. Yurgin scored three runs, while Gerdes and Eisler had two runs apiece.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Wednesday in a 4 p.m. game against Moravian College. The designated "home" game will be played at Rowan University in Glassboro.