REDLANDS, CA – It was the longest of days for Rutgers-Newark as they absorbed a 31-0 loss at the hands of the University of Redlands in The Yard.
Redlands 31, Rutgers-Newark 0
Junior second baseman
Matt Connors and senior designated hitter
Anthony Yeswita collected two hits apiece to pace the Scarlet Raiders’ 9-hit attack, but the Bulldogs piled up 33 hits – including seven doubles and three home runs – against nine Rutgers-Newark pitchers.
Senior starter
John Kuder gave up six runs on five hits and two walks in 2-1/3 innings. A 2-run homer by senior catcher Jefre Johnson between doubles by junior leftfielder Brandon Owashi and sophomore first baseman Jon Cavender with a walk mixed in gave the Bulldogs a quick 3-0 lead in the first. In the third, Kuder was chased by a 3-run homer to left by senior third baseman Michael Lessig.
But the bullpen provided no relief as 14 Bulldogs notched hits in the runaway paced by Cavender who went six for six with a pair of doubles.
Redlands junior right-hander Derek Johnson (5-0) handcuffed the Raiders for seven full innings, scattering six hits while striking out seven and walking only one. Sophomores Adam Byrd and Mike Massari each turned in an inning of relief to make the shutout stand up.
The Raiders best chance came in the eighth when Connors led off with a double only to be thrown out after taking too much real estate while rounding second. Reserve freshman shortstop
Nelson Lopez and Yeswita followed with singles, but Byrd coaxed back-to-back fly-ball outs to end the threat.
In the first, junior shortstop
Patrick Reitemeyer reached second on a throwing error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. But Johnson got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and strand Reitemeyer.
In the fifth, freshman right fielder
Owen Harshaney and Connors each singled with one out, but Reitemeyer grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Rutgers-Newark, which saw its losing streak stretched to six games, takes on Ithaca College in The Yard on Monday at 2 p.m. (PDT).
Redlands (15-2) extended its winning streak to nine games.