Newark, NJ — A three-run fourth inning gave John Jay early control, but Rutgers-Newark responded with a game-breaking eight-run sixth to pull away for a 16-8 victory on Tuesday afternoon.
John Jay (1-14) jumped ahead with a well-executed rally in the fourth. After a leadoff single by
Julian Diaz,
Sebastian Sanchez drove in the game's first run with a double to left center.
Isaac Salazar followed with an RBI single, and
Lucas Perez capped the inning with a run-scoring groundout to give the Bloodhounds a 3-0 lead.
Rutgers-Newark (7-10) chipped away in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game in the fifth on a two-run double from Matthew Torreto. The momentum fully shifted in the sixth, where Rutgers-Newark erupted for eight runs on eight hits, highlighted by RBI knocks from Jonathan Jerez, Malik Little, and Daniel Fedorco, along with a two-run single from Michael Weinbel. The surge turned a 3-3 game into an 11-3 deficit.
John Jay attempted to respond in the seventh when
James Horodyski delivered an RBI double, and the Bloodhounds mounted their biggest push in the eighth. Salazar recorded his second RBI hit of the day, and John Jay capitalized on multiple Rutgers-Newark errors to score four runs and cut the deficit to 13-8.
However, Rutgers-Newark answered immediately with three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, including a two-run double from Fedorco, to seal the win.
Offensively, John Jay was paced by Sanchez (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) and Salazar (2-for-4, 2 RBI), while
Hayden Tackett reached base three times and scored twice. Horodyski added a pinch-hit RBI double in the effort.
On the mound,
Alex Morrissey struck out four over 4.1 innings before the bullpen was tagged during Rutgers-Newark's decisive sixth inning.
Rutgers-Newark finished with 16 runs on 16 hits, led by Fedorco (3-for-4, 3 RBI) and Torreto (2-for-4, 3 RBI), as the hosts capitalized on timely hitting and defensive miscues to complete the comeback victory.
The Bloodhounds are back in action on Thursday, March 26 as they travel to Farmingdale State for a 3:00 p.m. first-pitch.
