BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (April 20, 2011) – This game had it all including diving catches, crazy plays, and back-and-forth scoring but in the end Rutgers-Newark scored two runs in the top of the 13th and DeSales was unable to find the counter punch, dropping its fifth straight game, 10-8, in a non-conference game on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon at Butz Field.

The Bulldogs (13-13 overall) took a 6-2 lead with five runs in the fifth inning courtesy of an RBI groundout from junior Jack Kavetski, a sacrifice fly from senior Doc Neiman, and a two-out, two-run double from sophomore Brian Mauro. The lead increased by one run in the sixth when freshman Justin Scerbo scored on a double steal with two outs in the inning.

From there the Scarlet Raiders (18-10 overall) took control scoring twice in the seventh to get within 7-4 and then three more times in the eighth to tie the game at seven. After scoring once in the sixth, the Bulldogs went in order for three straight innings and saw 12-straight hitter retired from the end of the sixth to the middle of the 10th inning.

In the top of the 11th, Rutgers-Newark took advantage of a hit by pitch to start the inning, scoring a run on an RBI double two batters later by Tim Miller. DeSales, however, had the answer in the bottom of the frame when sophomore Bill Marriott roped a lead-off double, junior Kenny Ridge walked, Scerbo bunted them over to third, and after an intentional pass to Kavetski, Neiman plated pinch-runner, sophomore Derek Chrismer, with the tying run on a sacrifice fly to right-field, but junior Jason Hadinger was caught looking to end the inning with a chance to win the game with a base hit.

DSU had another chance to win the game in the 12th with a runner on second with one out but two fly outs ended the threat. In the 13th, the Scarlet Raiders strung together three hits and a walk with one out, plating two runs before a crazy play ended the inning. A ground ball up the middle was thrown away by Kavetski on the throw to first to complete the double play but the batter was called out for running towards the dugout and out of the baseline, thinking the play was over.

The Bulldogs got a one-out base-runner in the bottom of the 13th but he was picked off as Billy Cerruti came into earn his first save of the season with two strikeouts.

Kavetski took the loss, but had a gutsy outing on the mound, coming in from centerfield in the eighth inning to pitch five solid innings allowing six hits and three runs, striking out four. Senior Jeffrey Pinto also pitched well, starting and pitching five innings allowing six hits and two runs, striking out five. Scerbo, Kavetski, and Mauro each had two hits, while senior Ronnie Wentz added three hits in the loss to lead the bat attack. Mauro and Neiman each had two RBIs.

The Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow when they face FDU-Florham in a very important Freedom Conference game beginning at 3:30 pm at Butz Field.