Box Score GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rutgers-Camden baseball team defeated Kean University, 5-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament on Saturday. The fourth-seeded Cougars were eliminated with the loss.
The top-seed Scarlet Raptors improve to 29-10-1 overall and advance to face #2 Rowan University on Saturday, May 3 at 2:30 p.m. The Cougars have a 29-12 record. Right-hander Harry Sturgis (fr. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) earned the win. He (4-0) pitched eight innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Kyle Gaff (so. Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester) pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out the side for his fifth save. Righty Charles Thielmann (jr. Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) suffered the loss. He (3-4) went eight innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and struck out eight.
Right fielder Adrian Gonzalez (sr. Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) was two for three with one run scored and one RBI for Rutgers-Camden. Designated hitter Joe Brooks (fr. Blackwood, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) had three hits (four at bats) and scored one time. Left fielder Doug Carter (fr. Union, NJ/Union) had a double, drove in two runs and scored one run. Catcher Jon Theckston (fr. Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and shortstop Tim Holder (fr. Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) had one RBI apiece. Second baseman Joe Sigismondi (so. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.) and first baseman Connor Hall (jr. Delran, NJ/Delran) each scored one run. Sigismondi hit a double.
For Kean, shortstop Ryan Reitmeyer (so. Lacey Twp., NJ/Lacey Twp.) went three for four and knocked in a run. First baseman Nick Zucchero (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) had two hits (four at bats) and scored one time. Right fielder Ryan Kelley (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) had one run scored and one RBI. Designated hitter Sal Taormina (so. Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) crossed the plate one time and second baseman Tyler Smarslok (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) drove in a run. Third baseman Andy Lopez (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) had a double.
The Scarlet Raptors scored in the first inning. Gonzalez singled through the left side to score Sigismondi. The Cougars took a 3-1 lead in the fifth. Kelley hit a RBI single to right center and Taormina crossed the plate. Smarslok had a sacrifice fly to score Zucchero. Reitmeyer plated Kelley with a single up the middle. Rutgers-Camden regained the lead with a four-run eighth inning. Carter smacked a two-run double to left field. Theckston and Holder followed with a pair of sacrifice flies.
The NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament schedule is below. Results and the updated schedule for the conference tournament are available at njacsports.com.
Tuesday, April 29 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #1 Rutgers-Camden 4, #6 William Paterson University 0
Game 2 - #2 Rowan University 7, #5 The College of New Jersey 6
Game 3 - #4 Kean University 5, #3 Montclair State University 0
Thursday, May 1 (at higher seed)
Game 5 - #3 Montclair State University 9, #1 Rutgers-Camden 6
Friday, May 2 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 - #6 William Paterson University 8, #5 The College of New Jersey 3
(TCNJ is eliminated.)
Game 6 - #2 Rowan University 8, #4 Kean University 2
Saturday, May 3 (at Rowan University)
Game 7 - #1 Rutgers-Camden 5, #4 Kean University 3
Game 8 - #3 Montclair State University vs. #6 William Paterson University, 11:30 a.m.
Game 9 - #2 Rowan University vs. #1 Rutgers-Camden, 2:30 p.m.
If two teams remain after game 9:
Sunday, May 4 (at Rowan University)
Game 10 - winner game 8 vs. winner game 9, noon
Game 11 - same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA
If three teams remain after game 9:
Sunday, May 4 (at Rowan University)
Game 10 - winner game 8 vs. loser game 9, noon
Game 11 - winner game 9 vs. winner game 10, 4:00 p.m.
