CAMDEN, N.J. (March 2, 2024) – Junior first baseman Diego Salazar went 3-for-4 to lead an 11-hit attack and senior righty Ethan Carpenter worked six innings to win his second game of the season as the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team defeated Penn State-Abington, 9-3, on a cold afternoon here Friday.
 
The Scarlet Raptors raised their record to 3-1, while the Nittany Lions fell to 0-4.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored in every inning except the sixth and eighth as it took advantage of 11 hits, six walks and five Abington errors. Carpenter, meanwhile, worked six innings, scattering seven hits and allowing three earned runs. He didn't walk any batters and struck out eight while raising his record to 2-0.
 
The Scarlet Raptors spotted him with a three-run lead in the first inning after a leadoff infield single by sophomore left fielder Jacob Watson. Watson stole second and junior shortstop Adam Aquilino walked before Watson was thrown out on a steal attempt of third base. Junior designated hitter Steven Shaffer walked and senior third baseman Ryan Nutley hit a two-out RBI single to right field. Salazar followed with an infield single to the left side of the infield and raced all the way to third on a throwing error by the Nittany Lions' third baseman, plating two unearned runs.
 
Rutgers-Camden added another run in the second when senior second baseman Danny Vazquez led off with a double to right field and was sacrificed to third by senior right fielder Giacomo Antonicello. He scored on a ground out by Watson.
 
The Nittany Lions cut their deficit to 4-2 with a pair of runs on four hits in the top of the third inning. Senior shortstop Shane Fillman and junior third baseman Josh McGee had RBI singles.
 
The Raptors added an unearned run in the bottom of the third, set up by a single from Salazar, who raced to second on an error in right field. Sophomore catcher Evan Carbone had a bunt single and one out later, Antonicello picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice.
 
Salazar stroked a two-run double to left field in the fourth inning, set up by a single from senior center fielder Auggie Uzdanovics and a walk to junior designated hitter Steven Shaffer. In the fifth inning, Antonicello tripled and was squeezed home by Watson.
 
After Penn State-Abington scored a run in the top of the sixth inning, Rutgers-Camden plated its final run in the seventh. Carbon tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
 
Salazar finished the day 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs, while Carbone and Uzdanovics both went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Watson had one hit and two RBIs and Shaffer walked twice and scored two runs.
 
McGee and freshman center fielder Donato Incollingo had two hits apiece for the Nittany Lions.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Sunday with an 11:30 a.m. doubleheader against Rosemont College. The twinbill was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved to Sunday to avoid rainy weather.