STOCKTON TOPS RUTGERS-NEWARK 5-2

Shawn Kessler

Boxscore

Richard Stockton (14-8, 2-1 NJAC) took the first contest of its two-game series with Rutgers- Newark (12-9, 2-1) by a 5-2 score. Shawn Kessler (Bayville/Central Regional) led the Ospreys as he went 2-4 with a double and two RBI.

Marc Asta (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) was 2-4 with a double, run scored and an RBI while Dan McGuckin (Sicklerville/Winslow Twp.) also chipped in with two hits and an RBI. Stockton stole nine bases, led by Barry Larro (Cedarville/Cumberland) with three thefts.

Larro led off the game with a walk and stole his first base before scoring on an RBI single by Nick Scalise (Northfield/Mainland). Scalise, who also stole two bases in the game, scored on an RBI single by McGuckin three batters later for an early 2-0 lead.

Rutgers-Newark got one run back on a sacrifice fly in the second inning but Stockton increased its lead to 4-1 with a pair of tallies in the sixth frame. Asta and Kessler each smacked an RBI double to produce the runs.

The Scarlet Raiders responded with one score in the bottom half for a 4-2 count. Kessler singled in a run in the eighth inning and Stockton posted the 5-2 victory.

Lefty Bryan Frank (Toms River/TR East) allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in six innings pitched for his third win this year. Brandon Trainor (Manahawkin/Southern) tossed three scoreless innings, allowing four hits and fanning three, to collect his second save of the season.