Rutgers-Newark 5, Stockton 1
Stockton 12, Rutgers-Newark 6

Dan McGuckin

game 1 / game 2
Richard Stockton (14-15, 3-12) dropped the opener of an NJAC doubleheader 5-1 to Rutgers-Newark (18-13, 6-8) before rebounding and snapping a seven-game losing streak with a 12-6 victory in the nightcap. Matt Allen (Salem/Woodstown) went 3-4 at the plate and Dan McGuckin (Sicklerville/Winslow Twp.) was 2-4 in the first game.

Rutgers-Newark took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning but Marc Asta (Jackson/Jackson) slugged a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to pull Stockton within 2-1. The Scarlet Raiders broke the game open late with two runs in the eighth inning and another in the ninth to deal the Ospreys the 5-1 defeat. Stockton left 12 runners on base in the game, including two apiece in four separate innings.

Stockton fared better in the nightcap, pounding 17 hits led by Jay Merulla (Logan Twp./ Kingsway) who went 3-5 with a triple and three RBI. Asta was 3-3 with a double and two RBI while McGuckin went 3-5 with a double for the Ospreys. Stockton starter Bill Hauer (Manahawkin/Southern) allowed four runs (three unearned) on 12 hits with four strikeouts in seven innings pitched for the win.

Stockton snapped a 3-3 tie with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, including two on a double by Asta, for a 6-3 lead. Merulla stroked a two-run single in the fifth frame as the Ospreys increased their advantage to 7-4. Merulla added another RBI single to cap a three-run sixth frame that put Stockton ahead 11-4 and Scott Fisher (Toms River/TR East) lofted a sacrifice fly for an RBI in the seventh as the Ospreys coasted to the 12-6 victory.