UNION, N.J. (April 1, 2023) – Rutgers University-Camden junior center fielder Auggie Uzdanovics singled home the game-winning run in the eighth inning of the first game and Kean University bounced back to win the nightcap as the two teams split their first New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader of the season here Saturday.
 
Rutgers-Camden won the opener, 4-3, and Kean took the second game, 5-3. The results leaves both teams with a 1-1 mark in the NJAC.
 
Rutgers-Camden is 12-7 overall, while Kean is 12-11.
 
The Raptors return to action Monday when they host Cabrini University in a non-conference game at 6 p.m.
   
With both teams tied at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning, sophomore third baseman Andrew Brown hit a one-out double and senior designated hitter Jack Murphy was walked intentionally. One out later, both players advanced on a passed ball and Uzdanovics drove home the winning run with an infield single.
 
Kean scored single runs in the first and third innings before the Scarlet Raptors got on the board in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Murphy. They scored twice in the fifth inning after a one-out double by junior Giacomo Antonicello. He scored on a single by freshman right fielder Jacob Watson, who advanced to second on the throw home and to third on a balk. Senior second baseman Danny Vazquez followed with an RBI single up the middle.
 
Kean tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by junior first baseman Gianni Marano, setting up the Raptors' winning rally.
 
Freshman reliever Gavin Cunard (2-1) picked up the win in relief of sophomore starter Daniel Robeson. Cunard worked 3.1 shutout innings of two-hit ball, striking out three. Robeson worked 5.2 innings, allowing five hits, four walks and three earned runs. He struck out seven.  
The Cougars scored in the first four innings, breaking a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run home run by senior catcher Phil Marcantonio. They added an unearned run – their second unearned run of the game – in the fourth inning to grab a 5-2 lead.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored its final run in the ninth inning on an RBI single by Watson, who went 3-for-5 with one run, one RBI and one stolen base in both games.
 
Sophomore first baseman Diego Salazar went 2-for-4 for the Scarlet Raptors, while Marano was 3-for-4 for the Cougars.
 
Senior Ethan Carpenter (3-1) was the losing pitcher, despite only allowing three earned runs out of his five runs. He worked four innings and allowed eight hits, without walking or striking out any batters. Senior Jacob Brennan hurled four relief innings of two-hit shutout ball. He had two strikeouts and didn't walk any batters.