Pitman, N.J. (5/3/14) – A four run eighth inning rally sent top seeded Rutgers-Camden past the Kean University baseball team on Saturday morning, eliminating them from the NJAC Tournament by the final of 5-3.

Rutgers-Camden used back-to-back singles to start off the inning, followed by an unintentional intentional walk to load the bases. Rookie Doug Carter delivered with a two RBI double to tie the game at three-all.  Consecutive sacrifice flies gave the Scarlet Raptors (29-10-1) the lead and an insurance run late in the contest.

Closer Kyle Gaff entered the game in the top of the ninth and retired the Cougars (29-12) in order with three strikeouts to seal the win as Camden advances to the 2:30 p.m. matchup against Rowan University.

Kean took a 3-1 lead in the fifth with three runs to erase an early 1-0 deficit.  Sophomore Sal Taormina and senior Nick Zucchero started off the inning with back-to-back singles and both moved into scoring position with a wild pitch.  Sophomore Ryan Kelley picked up an RBI with a single to right center to tie the game at one-all.  Senior Tyler Smarslok made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly and sophomore Ryan Reitmeyer made it 3-1 with a clutch two out hit up the middle.

A one out double from Joe Sigismondi got things started in the first.  Back-to-back singles then scratched across the first run of the game as Adrian Gonzalez picked up the RBI.

Harry Sturgis (4-0) earned the win with an eight inning performance.  Sturgis allowed eight hits and three runs with no walks and one strikeout.  Junior Charles Thielmann suffered the loss.  Thielmann tossed a complete game allowing eight hits.  He (3-4) struck out eight and walked three.

Offensively Reitmeyer led the team with a 3-for-4 day while Zucchero (pictured left) added two hits.

Kean has two regular season contests still on slate for the upcoming week and will have to play the waiting game after that for an NCAA Pool C bid.