MONTCLAIR, N.J. (April 25, 2025) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team was playing from behind almost the entire afternoon here Friday and in the end it couldn't overcome its deficit as it fell to Montclair State University, 12-7, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game.
 
The loss dropped the Scarlet Raptors to 24-14 overall and, more importantly, leaves them at 7-9 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden is sitting in a three-way tie for the sixth and final spot in the upcoming NJAC playoffs, locked in a deadlock with Rutgers-Newark and Stockton with two games remaining. The Scarlet Raptors host an NJAC doubleheader with William Paterson on Saturday, while Newark plays at regular-season champion Kean in a twinbill. The Ramapo at Stockton doubleheader has already been postponed to Sunday.
 
Montclair State, meanwhile, improved to 24-13 overall and 10-6 in the conference. The Red Hawks sit in third place in the NJAC heading into the final weekend.
 
Rutgers-Camden took a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a pair of hits, including an RBI single by freshman left fielder Ryan Joseph. Montclair State, however, bounced back with three unearned runs in the bottom of the frame and the Scarlet Raptors were playing from behind most of the remainder of the game.
 
Trailing, 4-2, the Raptors managed to tie Montclair State with a two-run rally in the top of the fifth inning. Junior second baseman Frankie Romond hit a leadoff double and scored on a single by Joseph, setting the stage for an historic RBI double by graduate first baseman Jack Murphy. His double to center field not only tied the game at 4-4, but it was the 47th double of his stellar career, setting a new program record. He had been tied at 46 doubles with Brian Murphy (2001-04). It also was his team-leading 16th double of the season, tying the single-season mark shared by two other players (Matt Hunt in 2010 and Adrian Gonzalez in 2013).
 
Montclair State bounced back to take the lead for good in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a three-run home run from freshman second baseman Chris Gonzalo.
 
Once again, Rutgers-Camden closed the gap with two runs in the sixth inning to make it a 7-6 game, scoring on an RBI ground out by Joseph and an RBI single by Murphy. Montclair State responded with a run in the bottom of the inning and out-scored the Raptors, 2-1, in the seventh inning before tacking on a pair of eighth-inning runs.
 
Sophomore first baseman Billy Tigar led the Red Hawks' 11-hit attack, going 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs.
 
Rutgers-Camden collected 15 hits, including 3-for-5 days from Romond, Murphy and sophomore right fielder Brandon Petrick. Romond scored three times, Murphy had three RBIs and Petrick scored one run. Sophomore designated hitter Austin Dubler went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, while Joseph was 2-for-5 with one run and three RBIs.
 
Graduate southpaw Patrick Cuccurullo worked 5.2 innings, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs to raise his record to 5-0 for the Red Hawks. Senior Patrick Teehan picked up his ninth save, allowing one run over 3.1 innings.