CAMDEN, N.J. (May 3, 2024) – The College of New Jersey scored four runs in the fifth inning and went on to eliminate Rutgers University-Camden from the New Jersey Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament, 6-4, here Friday in the middle game of a tripleheader.
 
In the first game of the day, an elimination contest, second-seeded Kean University (27-14) ended the season of top-seeded Stockton University (22-17), 4-2.
 
In the nightcap winners' bracket game, third-seeded Ramapo College (26-14) remained unbeaten with a 7-5 victory over fifth-seeded Rowan University (25-12).
 
The results set up the first two games of Saturday's tripleheader, with Kean facing Rowan at 12 p.m. in a losers' bracket game. At 3 p.m., the two remaining undefeated teams, Ramapo and TCNJ, will battle. The 7 p.m. game will pit the survivor of the Kean/Rowan game against the loser of the Ramapo/TCNJ contest.
 
Sixth-seeded TCNJ (23-15), which knocked off Stockton in Galloway when the NJAC Championships opened at campus sites Tuesday, ended a stellar season for fourth-seeded Rutgers-Camden (26-15).
 
NJAC Playoff Bracket
 
The Scarlet Raptors scored the first run of the game in the second inning after a leadoff double from senior designated hitter Jack Murphy. He scored on an RBI single by junior third baseman Jose Correa.
 
The Lions tied the game with an unearned run in the fourth inning on two singles and an error before exploding for four runs in the fifth inning. TCNJ used five hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly in the frame, sparked by a leadoff double from senior left fielder Jack Haynes. He scored the tie-breaking run on a single by junior second baseman Mike LaGravenis.
 
Trailing, 5-1, Rutgers-Camden cut its deficit to one run with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. Correa opened the frame with a double to right center and scored on a single by senior shortstop Billy Richards. Freshman catcher Julian Gonzalez singled to right, advancing Richards to third base. Richards scored on a bunt single by senior right fielder Giacomo Antonicello. After a fielder's choice, senior second baseman Danny Vazquez plated the final run on a sacrifice fly to the shortstop, going into the outfield to make the catch.

TCNJ added an unearned un in the top of the eighth inning on a hit, a sacrifice, a stolen base and an error for its final winning margin. Rutgers-Camden opened the bottom of the ninth inning with a leadoff double by Correa, but left his freshman pinch-runner Austin Dubler stranded on third base to end the game.

TCNJ graduate student pitcher Ben Amon (5-1) earned the win, pitching eight innings and scattering 10 hits. He allowed four earned runs and struck out four. Senior Joe Ferreri picked up his third save with a scoreless ninth inning after Amon allowed Correa's leadoff double. Ferreri struck out one.

Rutgers-Camden senior Ethan Carpenter (5-2) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs (four earned) in five innings. He walked two and struck out six. Senior Jacob Brennan had a strong outing in relief, going 3.2 innings and allowing two hits and one unearned run. He struck out two.

Correa went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI to pace Rutgers-Camden's 10-hit attack. Vazquez and Antonicello both added two hits.