BALTIMORE, Maryland (May 16, 2025) – Senior third baseman Ryan Nutley ripped a two-run walkoff single to left field, capping a thrilling three-run ninth-inning rally as the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 6-5, in its opening game at the NCAA Division III Baltimore Regional here Friday.
 
The victory was the fifth straight – all in the post-season – for the Scarlet Raptors, who improved to 30-15. It marked only the third time in program history they have won 30 games, following seasons in 2002 (32-10) and 2014 (30-13-1).
 
In the first game of the day, the nation's top-ranked team, Johns Hopkins University, routed Farmingdale State, 19-7, for its 22nd consecutive victory. After allowing a run in the top of the first inning, the Blue Jays (40-3) scored three in the bottom of the frame, taking the lead for good on a two-run home run by senior third baseman Shawn Steuerer. They exploded for eight runs in the second inning, aided by a grand slam from senior center fielder Jake Siani.

Photo gallery
 
The results set up the first two games on Saturday in the Baltimore Regional. At 11 a.m., Farmingdale State (26-15) will face Rensselaer (29-15). in an elimination game. The 2:30 p.m. the winners' bracket game will pit Johns Hopkins against Rutgers-Camden. The loser of that game will play the third game of the day against the survivor of the losers' bracket game.
 
John's Hopkins defeated Rutgers-Camden, 9-4, when the teams met in Auburndale, Florida, on March 17.
 
Rutgers-Camden entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing Rensselaer, 5-3. Freshman shortstop Chris Smith opened the frame getting hit by a pitch before a long rain delay followed. When the game finally resumed, sophomore designated hitter Austin Dubler sacrificed Smith to second base. The Raptors' junior second baseman Frankie Romond reached first base as another hit batsman. Freshman left fielder Ryan Joseph drew a walk to load the bases and was lifted for sophomore pinch-runner Matt McAleer. Graduate first baseman Jack Murphy bounced a ball near the mound that was fielded by Engineers pitcher Zach Zajac, but his errant throw for a force at the plate allowed Smith to score, cutting the gap to 5-4. Nutley followed with his game-winning two-run single to left field, with the speedy McAleer scoring the winning run on the tail of Romond's tying run.
 
The comeback made a winner out of sophomore pitcher D.J. Juliano, who earned his first decision of the season with one shutout inning. He allowed two hits and struck out one. Juliano was the fourth Raptor pitcher of the day, following a start by senior Chase Cooper (4.1 innings, eight hits, three earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts) and relief work by senior Joey Rappaport (two innings, two hits, two earned runs, four strikeouts) and junior Dylan Oliver (1.2 scoreless, hitless innings with two strikeouts).
 
Zajac (2-3) took the loss, working one third of an inning and allowing three runs on one hit, one walk, two hit batsmen and his own error.
 
Shaffer finished the day 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and one RBI, while Nutley went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
 
Rensselaer scored a run in the top of the first inning on a home run by freshman right fielder Ian Oehlschlaeger, but Rutgers-Camden quickly countered in the bottom of the frame. Dubler walked and stole second. He scored on a double by Romond.
 
The Scarlet Raptors took the lead in the second inning on a solo home run by senior center fielder Steven Shaffer, his fifth home of the season. The Engineers, however, took the lead with a pair of runs on three hits in the third inning, sparked by a one-out solo home run from senior second baseman Jon Primerano. One out later, senior designated hitter Ayush Krishnappa doubled and scored on a single by freshman third baseman Michael Lebenson.
 
The Scarlet Raptors, meanwhile, stranded five runners on base between the third and fifth innings before Rensselaer added some breathing room with a two-run sixth inning. The Engineers collected a pair of hits, including the second home run of the day by Oehlschlaeger, a two-run shot to left field. It was his 11th home run of the season.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored a run in the bottom of the inning to make it a 5-3 game. Shaffer was hit by a pitch and stole second. Junior catcher Evan Carbone walked and the Raptors attempted a double steal, but Carbone was thrown out at second base while Shaffer reached third. Smith drove home Shaffer with a ground out to shortstop, setting the stage for the big ninth-inning comeback.