CAMDEN, N.J. (February 27, 2024) – It was a non-conference game that featured everything, from an earlier start time trying to beat the rainy forecast, through an 11-run inning and a total of 23 hits and 15 walks.
 
When the game was finally called in the top of the seventh inning due to rain, the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team had rolled up a 16-6 victory over Gwynedd Mercy University.
 
The Scarlet Raptors raised their record to 2-1, while the Griffins fell to 1-3.
 
Senior southpaw Chase Cooper was the beneficiary of the Raptors' 14-hit attack, working five strong innings in his first outing of the year. Cooper (1-0) allowed seven hits and three runs, only two earned. He didn't walk any batters and he struck out eight.
 
Rutgers-Camden's offense added 11 walks and two hit batsmen to its 14-hit attack, although the game started off as a competitive contest. The Scarlet Raptors jumped on top in the bottom of the second inning when senior third baseman Ryan Nutley drew a one-out walk and scored on an opposite-field two-out, two-run home run to right by senior second baseman Danny Vazquez. It was the first career home run and the 116th career hit for Vazquez.
 
The Griffins got one of those runs back in the top of the third on doubles by sophomore center fielder Chris Nodeland and sophomore right fielder Sam Junker, but the Scarlet Raptors didn't waste any time breaking the game open.
 
Rutgers-Camden sent 17 men to the plate in an 11-run third inning, the Raptors' biggest frame since scoring 12 runs in the fifth inning of a doubleheader nightcap against Immaculata University on Feb. 23, 2020. Camden won that game, 20-3.
 
The big frame featured seven hits, four walks, two hit batsmen, one error and three Gwynedd Mercy pitchers.. It started off with a bunt single by sophomore left fielder Jacob Watson, who proceeded to steal his second base of the year. Walks to senior shortstop Billy Richards and senior center fielder Auggie Uzdanovics loaded the bases for a two-run single by senior designated hitter Jack Murphy. After Murphy stole second, junior first baseman Steven Shaffer ripped a two-run triple. Nutley singled home Shaffer and sophomore catcher Evan Carbone was hit for the first of two times in the frame. A walk to Vazquez loaded the bases before senior right fielder Giacomo Antonicello delivered a three-run double to left field. After Watson reached on an error, Richards plated another run on a fielder's choice. Uzdanovics singled and one out later Shaffer walked to load the bases again. Nutley capped the scoring with a two-run single.
 
Gwynedd Mercy scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run double by sophomore catcher Mike Storti, but Rutgers-Camden countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. The Raptors plated one on a fielder's choice by Murphy and added a two-run single by Schaffer.
 
Gwynedd Mercy scored its final three runs in the sixth inning and had two runners on base with one out in the seventh when rain ended the game.
 
Shaffer finished the day 2-for-4 with a walk, one run and four RBIs, while Nutley was 2-for-2 with two runs, two walks and three RBIs. Antonicello went 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs and Murphy was 1-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.
 
Vazquez added a 1-for-3 day with a walk, two runs and two RBIs, while Watson was 2-for-5 with two runs. Richards went 1-for-2 with three runs, three walks and one RBI, and Uzdanovics was 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs. Carbone went 1-for-2, was hit twice and scored one run.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Friday with a non-conference home game against Penn State-Abington at 3:30 p.m.