CAMDEN, N.J. (April 9, 2026) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team has displayed its grit and comeback ability all season long, and Thursday proved to be no exception.
 
After the Scarlet Raptors rallied from an 8-2 deficit to tie their New Jersey Athletic Conference game against Rowan University, however, the nationally-ranked Profs showed their own ability to bounce back. The Profs rallied for three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 11-8.
 
The result locks the two teams in a tie for the NJAC lead with 6-1 records. Rowan, ranked sixth in the current D3baseball.com Top 25 poll and eighth in the NCAA Division III Baseball Coaches poll, improves to 18-3 overall, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 14-11.
 
The Profs built an 8-2 lead through six innings, aided by a four-run third inning that featured three hits, three walks and an error. They added a single run in the fifth and a three-run home run in the sixth by junior third baseman Brayden Davis.
 
Rutgers-Camden, meanwhile, scored only twice over the first six innings, notching a pair of runs in the third on an error and two hits, an RBI double by junior center fielder Jacob Watson and a run-scoring single by sophomore shortstop Chris Smith.
 
The Raptors started their comeback bid in earnest with four runs in the seventh inning, sided by four hits, a hit batsman and a walk. After sophomore right fielder Gavin McCaffrey and junior second baseman Austin Dubler both singled, sophomore designated hitter Jake Slusarski launched a three-run home run to center field. It was his team-leading fifth homer of the season. Watson was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a ground out and scored on a single by sophomore catcher Mason Blizzard.
 
The Raptors tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, using a walk and four singles to produce two runs. Slusarski and Smith had RBI singles in the inning.
 
Just when the momentum seemed to favor Rutgers-Camden, however, Rowan struck back in the top of the ninth inning. With two outs, freshman shortstop Kyle Lamanteer hit an opposite-field home run to right field, breaking the 8-8 deadlock. Three hits followed to produce two more runs.
 
Rutgers-Camden loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning on a pair of walks and a hit batsman. Rowan freshman reliever Nick Watson worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a pop up, to end the game and earn the win, lifting his record to 2-0 with two scoreless innings.
 
Raptor junior Gavin Cunard (1-1) took the loss in relief.
 
Rowan senior designated hitter Ian Murphy and junior second baseman Joey Bogart had three hits apiece, while Davis went 2-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs.
 
Rutgers-Camden's 13-hit attack was led by Smith, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. McCaffrey, Dubler, Slusarski and Watson had two hits apiece for the Scarlet Raptors, with Slusarski driving home four runs.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action on Friday when they visit Rowan at 3:30 p.m. in the back end of the home-and-home NJAC series.