A pair of four-run innings late in the game lifted the Rutgers-Camden baseball team to a 14-12 victory over Moravian College in the final day of the 4th Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament at Hampden-Sydney College Sunday as the Greyhounds suffered their first loss of the season.
Moravian jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Junior first baseman Kevin O'Keefe hit a two-out since and would score on a bases loaded walk by senior third baseman Jon Baltz, pictured at right.
Rutgers-Camden tied the game in the top of the second inning on an RBI single from designated hitter Joe Merlino after second baseman Jon Hydock had doubles with one out.
The Raptors scored four runs in the top of the third to build a 5-1 lead. Third baseman John Santilli had a two-RBI double in the inning while Merlino hit an RBI sacrifice fly and outfielder Tristan Keyser was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Greyhounds would retake the lead, 6-5, with five runs in the bottom half of the third inning. O'Keefe led off with a double, his fourth double of the season, and senior outfielder Mike Zubia singled. Senior second baseman Jake Schweitzer hit an RBI single to score O'Keefe while Zubia scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Blatz. Junior catcher Blake Shortall hit an RBI single to score Baltz while sophomore outfielder Rocco Del Priore had an RBI triple to push Shortall across the plate. Del Priore scored the final run of the inning on an RBI single from senior outfielder Jason Huber.
Rutgers-Camden tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by shortstop George Spingler.
Moravian answered with two run in the bottom of the fifth for an 8-6 lead. Shortall, pictured at left, was hit by a pitch to start the inning and freshman Harrison Fonteix came on to pinch run. Huber hit an RBI single to send Fonteix home, and Huber would cross the plate on a passed ball.
The Greyhounds extended their lead to 10-6 with two more runs in the sixth. Schweitzer led off the sixth with a walk and Baltz singled. Schweitzer crossed the plate on a wild pitch while Baltz would come home on an RBI sacrifice fly by junior catcher Austin Rock.
The Raptors scored four times in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 10-10. Santilli had a three-RBI triple in the inning before he scored the tying run on a passed ball.
Rutgers-Camden added four more runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 14-10 lead. First baseman CJ Mooney put the Raptors back in front with a two-RBI double while Santilli drove in Rutgers-Camden's final runs with a two-RBI single.
Moravian scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to finish the scoring in the game. Zubia led off with a single and Schweitzer reached on an error for the Greyhounds. Baltz then hit a two-RBI single but the Greyhounds left the tying runs on base in the inning.
Rutgers-Camden had a 19-14 edge in hits in the game with Santilli going three-for-six with seven RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Outfielder Joe Siswo was three-for-five with three runs while Merlino was three-for-four for the Raptors. Keyser and Hydock were each two-for-five while Spingler was two-for-six.
Zubia led Moravian at the plate with a four-for-six performance while Baltz was two-for-three with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Del Priore, pictured at right, was also two-for-three while O'Keefe was two-for-five at the plate. Huber was two-for-six for the Greyhounds with a pair of RBIs.
Freshman Robert Solano started on the mound for Moravian, allowing five runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of action. Sophomore Frank Trautz tossed 2 1/3 innings with a run on two hits, two walks and a strikeout while freshman Chris Soltys took the loss for the Greyhounds after giving up five runs, three earned, on four hits, two walks and a strikeout in one-plus innings of work. Freshman Thomas Marino gave up three runs on four hits and a strikeout in an inning of action while O'Keefe tossed the final inning for Moravian with one strikeout.
Rutgers-Camden used four pitchers in the game with John-Adam Benckert earning the win in relief after allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out a batter in 2 2/3 innings. Chris Fries picked up a save for the Raptors after allowing a hit and striking out two batters in the final 1 1/3 innings.
