AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 10, 2024) – Junior first baseman Steven Shaffer doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning here Sunday night to help the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team edge Ripon College, 3-2, in the opening game of the Scarlet Raptors' spring trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
The victory lifted the Scarlet Raptors to 6-3. The Red Hawks, from Ripon, Wisconsin, fell to 2-4.
 
Rutgers-Camden bounced right back after Ripon tied the game in the top of the eighth inning. Senior designated hitter Jack Murphy opened the frame with a walk and freshman Matt McAleer was inserted as a pinch runner. Senior third baseman Ryan Nutley sacrificed him to second base and Shaffer ripped an RBI double to center field.
 
The run made a winning pitcher out of sophomore Gavin Cunard (1-0), who worked the final two innings, allowing one run and one hit, while striking out two. He retired the side in order in the ninth inning.
 
The Scarlet Raptors received an outstanding start from senior Ethan Carpenter, who worked seven innings of six-hit ball, allowing one run and one walk. He struck out eight.
 
Rutgers-Camden broke a scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the third inning when senior second baseman Danny Vazquez singled and raced to third on a double by senior right fielder Giacomo Antonicello. Sophomore left fielder Jacob Watson plated Vazquez with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Raptors tacked on another run in the fourth inning after a one-out walk to Murphy. He advanced to third on a single by Nutley and scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Red Hawks broke Carpenter's shutout bid in the sixth inning when sophomore right fielder Jack Anderson doubled and scored on a single by freshman designated hitter Crete Slattery. After a walk and an error placed runners at the corners, Carpenter worked out of the jam with a double play.
 
Ripon tied the game in the top of the eighth inning against Cunard. Junior catcher Kaleb Burns singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Cunard. He was sacrificed to third and scored on a wild pitch, setting the stage for the Raptors' winning rally in the bottom of the frame.
 
Watson led Rutgers-Camden's six-hit attack, going 2-for-3 with one RBI and one stolen base from the leadoff spot.
 
The Scarlet Raptors resume play at the RussMatt Invitational on Monday in Davenport, Florida. They will face the University of Saint Joseph (West Hartford, Conn.) at 12:45 p.m.