REDLANDS, CA – Junior leftfielder
Michael Cassese went four for five with five RBIs as Rutgers-Newark erupted for 18 hits in a 16-4 win over Ithaca College in The Yard on the campus of the University of Redlands.
Rutgers-Newark 16, Ithaca 4
The Scarlet Raiders (2-6) snapped a 6-game losing streak as junior starting pitcher
Billy Cerruti (1-1) struck out 11 and walked three while giving up three runs on six hits during seven full innings of work.
Sophomore
Nick Evans gave up a run on two hits in the eighth before senior closer
Michael Hansen struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.
After scoring just three runs in three games to start their California spring break trip, the Raiders scored in every inning except the first and ninth to break free of an uncharacteristic cold spell. Rutgers-Newark also posted 16 runs in their season-opening win over Mount St. Mary.
Cassese hammered a solo home run to start off the 2-run third, stroked an RBI double and scored in the 2-run fourth, drew a bases-loaded walk in the 3-run fifth, slapped an RBI single to left in the 3-run sixth and, against all odds, drew a second bases-loaded walk in the 3-run seventh. He finally proved human by striking out in the eighth.
On the mound, Cerruti carried a 3-hit shutout into the sixth before giving up a pair of runs on a walk and two singles. The trimmed the Raider lead to 11-2.
Senior third baseman
Joe Furnaguera joined Cassese just one piece shy of hitting for the circuit. Furnaguera had an RBI single in the third, an RBI double in the fourth and drove a triple to right center field to start of the 2-run eighth while also getting hit by a pitch and scoring twice.
Junior centerfielder
Michael DiCenso went two for three with RBI singles in the second and eighth innings, walked twice and was hit by a pitch to reach safely five times. He scored twice.
Junior second baseman
Matt Connors drew three walks, including once with the bases loaded, and stroked an RBI single in the seventh while senior first baseman
Matt Lingo delivered three singles, scored three times and drove in a run in the eighth.
Sophomore catcher
Anthony Palladino and sophomore rightfielder
Chris Ballester each went two for five, drew a walk and scored twice while junior shortstop
Patrick Reitemeyer ripped a 2-run single through the left side of the infield in the sixth.
Rutgers-Newark begins play in the California Invitational on Friday by taking on Cal Lutheran in a doubleheader in Thousand Oaks.