Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MAHWAH, N.J. (May 1, 2021) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team went into its final two series of the season battling for playoff position in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
 
After a tough series in which the Scarlet Raptors dropped back-to-back games against The College of New Jersey Thursday and Friday, the momentum didn't change here Saturday. Ramapo College swept a doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden, 15-3 and 7-3, to leave the Scarlet Raptors tied with Stockton University in the regular-season standings, both with 7-11 NJAC marks. TCNJ, meanwhile, swept Kean on Saturday to leap over both Rutgers-Camden and Stockton, into sixth place in the standings.
 
In the pandemic-altered playoff format, the top six teams will begin playoff action in a best-of-three series quarterfinal format beginning Friday. The bottom four teams will play a single-elimination game on Tuesday to fill out the quarterfinal brackets.
 
By virtue of the Raptors splitting a series against regular-season champion Rowan, while Stockton lost twice to the Profs, Rutgers-Camden will earn the seventh seed for the NJAC playoffs and face 10th seed Rutgers-Newark on Tuesday. Since the Scarlet Raptors have been without a field all season long, the game will be played in Newark at 3:30 p.m.
 
NJAC bracket
 
Saturday's doubleheader leaves the Scarlet Raptors with an 8-16 record overall. Ramapo, the fourth seed in the upcoming playoffs, is 12-8 overall and 11-8 in NJAC play.
   
Ramapo had traffic on the bases all game long in the opener as four Scarlet Raptor pitchers combined to allow 12 hits, 17 walks and three hit batsmen. The Roadrunners scored all the runs they needed in a six-run first inning, aided by four walks, two hit batsman and three hits. The biggest hit was a two-run single by senior catcher Justin Garthaffner.
 
For the game, Garthaffner was one of four Roadrunners with two hits, going 2-for-4 with one run and a team-leading three RBIs.
 
While Ramapo was running the bases, the Scarlet Raptors were limited to only two hits by a trio of Roadrunner hurlers. Junior left fielder Garrett Warner had a double in the sixth inning and sophomore shortstop Danny Vazquez had a single in the fifth. Vazquez also added a sacrifice fly in the third inning.
 
Senior Matt Stewart (2-2) earned the win, allowing one hits, five walks and two runs (one unearned) in five innings. He struck out one.
   
The Roadrunners took advantage of five hits and five walks in the nightcap to sweep the doubleheader. Trailing, 3-2, Ramapo scored four runs in the fifth inning, aided by a two-run double from senior center fielder Justin Grippo.
 
Rutgers-Camden took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Senior right fielder Rob Scanlan walked, senior third baseman Thomas Gosse was hit by a pitch and both scored on a double by senior center fielder Billy Eisler.
 
Ramapo tied the game in the bottom of the second inning, but Rutgers-Camden scored a run in the third after loading the bases with no outs. Senior second baseman R.J. Concepcion and senior first baseman Matt Yanick both singled before junior designated hitter Jesse Gerdes was hit by a pitch. Concepcion scored on a double play ball.
 
Grippo finished with three RBIs for the Roadrunners. Concepcion, who went 2-for-5 with one run, was the only player with multiple hits in the game.