CAMDEN, N.J. (March 23, 2023) – Throughout its first 13 games, the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team collected double-digit hits six times, 10 or more runs on five occasions and entered Thursday's contest with a five-game winning streak.
 
Immaculata University junior pitcher Derek Andrada and senior reliever Mason Keller cooled down the Scarlet Raptor offense here in a non-conference game, tossing a two-hit shutout as the Mighty Macs posted a 6-0 victory.
 
The result leaves both teams with an 8-6 record in the early season.
 
Andrada was spectacular, facing the minimum of 11 batters over the first 3.2 innings before allowing his only hit, a looping single to left-center field by Raptor sophomore third baseman Frankie Romond. The only other player that reached base against him in the first seven innings came on an infield error leading off the second inning. He was erased on a double play. Andrada (2-0) ended up pitching 7.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball, walking one and striking out two. He left in the eighth inning after walking senior designated hitter/pitcher Jack Murphy to open the frame and getting the first out on a deep fly ball.
 
Keller finished off the game with 1.2 one-hit innings, allowing only a single to the first batter he faced in the eighth, sophomore left fielder Chris Bonafiglia. Keller worked out of the two-on, one-out jam with a double play and retired the side in order in the ninth inning.
 
Andrada had to be tough, as he was locked in a terrific pitching duel with Raptor senior starter John Kasper most of the game. Kasper held the Mighty Macs scoreless over the first 5.1 innings before senior first baseman Joey Wright had a single and senior catcher Josh Crowding crushed a long opposite-field home run to right field.
 
Kasper (0-2) ended up working seven innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. He walked two and struck out three.
 
Immaculata doubled its lead with two runs in the eighth inning as pinch-hitter Robert Woodward greeted Raptor sophomore reliever Josh Miller with a double and grad student center fielder Frank Margiotta added a bunt single. An errant pickoff throw allowed Wright to score from third and sent Margiotta to second base. He advanced to third on a wild pitch before Murphy relieved Miller. One out and an intentional walk to Crowding later, senior third baseman Joey Sacco dropped a bunt single down the first base line, scoring Margiotta.
 
The Mighty Macs added a pair of unearned runs in the ninth inning off Murphy when a single, a two-out error and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Crowding. He delivered a two-run double, which would have been a bases-clearing shot if not for a perfect relay from Bonafiglia to junior shortstop Giacomo Antonicello to sophomore catcher Andrew Brown to cut down Wright at the plate. It was the second outfield assist of the game for Bonafiglia, who threw out Crowding at third base trying to go from first to third on a fourth-inning single.
 
Wright, Crowding and Sacco had two hits apiece for the Mighty Macs, with Crowding picking up four RBIs.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday when it hosts Ursinus College in an 11:30 a.m. non-conference doubleheader.