EWING, N.J. (April 7, 2024) – Senior designated hitter Jack Murphy had three hits, including a first-inning grand slam, and five RBIs and freshman Cian Phillips collected his first collegiate win in relief as the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team defeated #21-ranked The College of New Jersey, 11-4, here Sunday.
 
The victory lifts the Scarlet Raptors to 18-7 overall and 5-1 in the NJAC, while TCNJ falls to 16-5 and 4-2. Rutgers-Camden has won three straight games and 13 of its last 16 contests.
 
Two days after losing to the Lions, 4-2, in Camden, the Scarlet Raptors completed their home-and-home series by ripping 16 hits against four TCNJ pitchers. Senior second baseman Danny Vazquez went 4-for-6 with here runs and two RBIs to lead the hit parade, while Murphy and senior third baseman Ryan Nutley both had three hits.
 
Rutgers-Camden struck for four quick runs in the first inning when sophomore left fielder Jacob Watson singled and went to third on a Vazquez double. Junior right fielder Steven Shaffer was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Murphy's grand slam. It was the first Raptor grand slam since Diego Salazar, now a junior, hit one against William Paterson in the sixth inning of the first game of an April 22, 2023, doubleheader.
 
The home run was the second of the year for Murphy and the 18th of his career, tying him for third on the program's all-time list with Matt Yanick (2017-19). He is only three shy of tying the program's career record held by another Murphy – Brian Murphy – who hit 21 between 2001-04.
 
TCNJ answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and tied the game with a run in the third before the Raptors took the lead for good. Rutgers-Camden scored twice in the fourth inning when an error and singles by Watson and Salazar loaded the bases. Shaffer delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly and Murphy singled home another run.
 
Salazar hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his second of the year, to make it a 7-4 game. The Scarlet Raptors added three more runs in the seventh inning, including a two-run single by Vazquez, and added their final run in the ninth when Vazquez tripled and scored on a passed ball.
 
Phillips, meanwhile, picked up the win in relief of freshman starter Danny Torres Jr., who worked the first three innings and allowed five hits, four walks and four runs, three of them earned. He struck out one. Phillips hurled two hitless shutout innings to shut down the powerful TCNJ attack as he earned his first collegiate decision with the win.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action with a non-conference game Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Keystone College.