CAMDEN, N.J. (April 9, 2024) – There was plenty of action here Tuesday night when the Rutgers University-Camden and Keystone University baseball teams locked up in a non-conference marathon slugfest.
 
At the end of the four-hour, seven-minute marathon, the Giants escaped with an 18-13 victory in a game they led, 14-5, entering the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
The two teams combined for 31 runs, 26 hits, 17 walks, 10 pitchers, six errors and three hit batsmen.
 
Keystone raised its record to 17-8, while Rutgers-Camden fell to 18-7.
 
The game started off well for the Raptors, who took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore left fielder Jacob Watson, freshman second baseman Austin Dubler and junior center fielder Steven Shaffer all walked to open the frame. Senior designated hitter Jack Murphy plated one run with a fielder's choice and senior third baseman Ryan Nutley scored Dubler with a sacrifice fly.
 
Keystone struck right back with five runs in the top of the second inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and taking advantage of four hits, two walks and one error. The Giants added a run in the third to grab a 6-2 lead, but Rutgers-Camden jumped back into the game with a three-run third, including a two-run single by Nutley and an RBI double by junior first baseman Diego Salazar.
 
Keystone kept on scoring with four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to grab a 14-5 lead. The four-run fourth included a pair of two-run home runs by junior designated hitter Griffin Yastremski and junior catcher Andy Rivas.
 
Rutgers-Camden matched that four-spot in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run double by junior shortstop Jose Correa and a two-run home run by freshman right fielder Brandon Petrick. His first career home run sailed over the high right field wall.
 
Keystone added a run in the sixth and Rutgers-Camden countered with two runs on a two-RBI double by Shaffer, making it a 15-11 Giants lead through six innings. After two scoreless innings, the final runs came in the ninth when Keystone scored three times and Rutgers-Camden added two runs. Watson and Dubler had RBI singles in the frame.
 
Senior Julian Gonzalez, the most effective of four Keystone pitchers, picked up the win for his first decision of the year. He worked four innings, allowing six hits and two unearned runs. He walked one and struck out one.
 
Raptor freshman starter Anthony Angelo Jr. (1-1) took the loss, allowing four hits, two walks and five runs – two earned – in 1.2 innings. He struck out one.
 
Six players had multiple hits for Keystone, led by three hits from junior second baseman Nate Ewing.
 
Rutgers-Camden collected 11 hits, including a 3-for-5 night from Shaffer, who had two RBIs and scored once. Nutley went 1-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, while Watson and Dubler both had one hit and scored three runs at the top of the lineup. Watson walked four times and stole three bases, while Dubler walked three times.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Thursday when it plays a 3:30 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference game at 18th-ranked Rowan University. The Scarlet Raptors host the Profs on Friday at 3:30 p.m.