DAVENPORT, Fla. (March 20, 2026) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team bounced back from a doubleheader sweep on Thursday to rip Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin), 13-6, at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational here Friday.
The win evened the Scarlet Raptors' record at 7-7, while the Vikings fell to 3-6.
Rutgers-Camden bounced back from an early 4-0 deficit, tying the game with two runs apiece in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. In the third inning, junior center fielder
Jacob Watson was hit by a pitch with two outs. He stole second base and scored on a double by sophomore shortstop
Chris Smith. Smith advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by junior second baseman
Austin Dubler.
In the fourth inning, a leadoff double by sophomore first baseman
Ryan Joseph sparked the rally. After advancing on a ground out, Joseph scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore third baseman
Will Gural. Junior left fielder
Matt McAleer walked and scored on a pop fly that was dropped for an error, tying the game.
The Scarlet Raptors took the lead with a run in the fifth, sparked by a leadoff double from Dubler. He advanced on a ground out and scored on a ground out by sophomore right fielder
Gavin McCaffrey.
Rutgers-Camden put the game out of reach with a seven-run sixth inning that featured three errors, a walk and two hits, including a grand slam by McCaffrey. It was the Scarlet Raptors' first grand slam since
Jack Murphy hit one in the first inning against The College of New Jersey on April 7, 2024.
Dubler went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI, while McCaffrey was 2-for-5 with one run and five RBIs. Watson, Dubler, McAleer, Smith and sophomore designated hitter
Jake Slusarski all scored two runs.
Junior
D.J. Juliano (1-1) picked up the win, working six innings and allowing five hits, four earned runs and four walks, while fanning seven.
Rutgers-Camden will play its final game at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Saturday in Winter Haven. It will face Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 10 a.m.
