Center Valley, PA (Apri 11, 2017) - Junior Conner Lafferty and freshman Sergio Diaz each came up big with RBI hits as part of a three-run eighth inning leading the DeSales University baseball team past Rutgers-Camden, 5-4, in non-conference action on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon at Butz Field.

Rutgers-Camden (10-13) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run homer from Matthew Stoots but the Bulldogs (12-11) quickly got the runs back in the bottom half of the frame on a Scarlet Raptor error and RBI single from sophomore Tommy Epsaro.

Camden struck again in the third with a solo home run off the bat of Matt Yanick and then the bats went silent for both teams into the eighth inning.

After Rutgers got one run to make it a 4-2 game in the top of the eighth inning DSU struck with two outs.  Senior Mike Kacergis and Epsaro each singled and senior Tommy DePaul walked to load the bases for Lafferty.  He laced a two-out single into rightfield scoring two runs to tie the game at four and Diaz came up with runners on the corner and hit a line drive into rightfield pushing the eventual game-winning run home.

Senior Tyler Cooperman worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to produce his third save of the season and junior Konner Schneider earned the win pitching one inning of relief allowing one run.  Freshman Ryan Passaro was outstanding out of the bullpen as well pitching five scoreless innings allowing just two hits.

Junior Hunter Hart and Kacergis each had three hits and Epsaro two in the win.

Passaro earns TW Cooper Insurance Player of the Game honors with his five scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Thursday for the first of three games with Eastern University on the road beginning at 3:30 pm.